Australian travelers have been warned not to misbehave in Bali after a US tourist was deported for allegedly breaking her visa conditions and running a sexual wellness retreat.
Intimacy expert Jennelle Gordon, 44, was attempting to fly to Jakarta when she was arrested at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on September 16.
Gordon was accused of charging nearly $7,000 for a five-day course that she ran at a villa in Seminyak, despite authorities claiming that ‘running commercial events’ was ‘strictly prohibited’ under the terms of her visa.
Bali is enduring a significant rise in immigration violations by foreign nationals, mainly visitors overstaying their visas or operating unlicensed businesses.
Last month, the Immigration and Correctional Services Ministry formed a special task force to monitor unruly tourists, with Immigration Minister Agus Andrianto saying it would protect the safety of local communities.
S.W. Black Travel managing director and chief travel adviser Shane Black told Daily Mail that some Australians were among the unruly visitors who clearly needed to educate themselves about Balinese culture because the locals were losing patience.
‘What some people will forget is that there’s a whole heap of cultural sensitivities for the Indonesians that we need to be aware of,’ he said.
‘The Balinese have been great with putting up with us for a number of years but I think their patience is running thin with what’s going on and people who are completely disrespecting the Balinese way of life and their values.
Jennelle Gordon was deported from the Indonesia after she was caught running a sexual wellness retreat in Bali
Gordon was detained by immigration officers in Jakarta, Indonesia, on September 16
‘What we are seeing is that they’re clamping down and we need to make sure we’re aware of what can and can’t be done in Bali.’
The Sydney-based travel specialist said those who did not heed the warning could find themselves in more trouble than they realise.
‘We’ve seen the pitfalls of not respecting the culture. You can get deported,’ Mr Black said.
‘The reality is if you do get into strife, you are going to have a really bad time.’
Just last month, the Immigration and Correctional Services Ministry formed a task force to monitor unruly tourists in Bali after growing reports of immigration violations and criminal activity involving foreigners.
‘The Balinese are lovely people but when you’re in trouble, you’re in trouble,’ he said.
‘You can get involved in a system for years and years which isn’t forgiving to people that do the wrong thing,’ he said.
The mother planned a paid ‘Intimacy Mastery Retreat’ which violated her stay permit, according to authorities
Gordon said she wasn’t in Indonesia to teach a sex class
Gordon was accused of running the ‘Intimacy Mastery Retreat’, providing private classes on practices and techniques related to intimate relationships, emotional closeness and sexual activities.
Authorities launched an investigation after locals reported ‘suspicious activities’ at the villa she had been renting.
Officers alleged that they had found sex toys.
Gordon had arrived on the Indonesian island on September 4, using a Visa on Arrival (VoA), which was valid until October 4.
‘Hosting commercial events is strictly prohibited under this visa category,’ Ngurah Rai Immigration Office head Winarko said.
‘Every foreign national in Indonesia is required to comply with immigration regulations and respect the country’s legal norms. We will take firm action against anyone who abuses their stay permit in Indonesia,’ Winarko said.
Gordon has denied the claims made against her and insisted she was only in Indonesia for a holiday.
The 44-year-old told Daily Mail she had fallen victim to a ‘witch hunt’.
Gordon was outraged after being arrested claiming all she was doing was pumping cash into the local economy by hiring the villa
Footage from inside Gordon’s retreat in a Bali villa
Gordon explained that she wasn’t in Indonesia to teach a class to begin with – she said she was celebrating her birthday on September 9, and it was her business partner’s book release.
She repeatedly claimed that no business was conducted in the country, that any money she received was used to host the event.
The expert said that there were only eight people, including her and her partner, staying at the villa and that it was a completely spiritual gathering.
The single mother said she was outraged to be arrested after pumping cash into the local economy by hiring the villa – then performers and a priest to put on a party.
Gordon said she didn’t make any profit from the event.
