On Tuesday, the Indonesian parliament approved a new penal code that forbids having sex outside of marriage and carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail.
The new law forbids cohabitation between unmarried couples and is applicable to both Indonesians and foreigners.
To give time for implementing regulations to be created, the new law won’t take effect for three years.
According to reports, Indonesia’s tourism industry has expressed concerns about the new code, fearing that the ban may drive away visitors.
“We deeply regret that the government has closed its eyes. We have already expressed our concern to the ministry of tourism about how harmful this law is,” said Maulana Yusran, deputy chief of Indonesia’s tourism industry board.
