Indonesia gives green light to bikinis
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After months of in-depth consultations Indonesian lawmakers have decided that bikinis are acceptable attire for beaches in the mainly Muslim country, AFP reported.
The report said the move would bring a sigh of relief from Indonesia’s lucrative tourism industry, which has expressed concern over a new anti-pornography Bill
being pushed by conservative Muslim parties.
“Tourists will be able to wear bikinis in special tourist areas, so Indonesia’s tourism industry won’t be hurt by this legislation,” Democrat Party lawmaker, Husein Abdul Azis, told AFP.
“We are listening to the protests of stakeholders and people at large,” he added, referring to fears the tourism industry would suffer if bikinis were criminalised.
This year has been declared “Visit Indonesia Year” and the country intends to see 7
million visitors, earning US$6.7 billion in foreign exchange revenues.
Activists and tourism entrepreneurs in Bali had vowed to launch a campaign of
non-compliance if the pornography Bill was passed, the reports said.
Lawmakers were quoted saying that the Bill could be passed by the end of the month.
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