107 tourist guides arrested

107 tourist guides arrested

DENPASAR, Bali: The authorities have arrested 107 tourist guides, including an American, for violating government regulations on tourism.

The guides were caught in a special operation that the local administration launched to catch people without permits and guides failing to wear traditional clothes in certain places.

Operation leader I Gusti Ngurah Wijaya said the guides were caught at a number of tourist sites in Gianyar, Tabanan and Denpasar last week.

"They will be brought to trial in the near future," Ngurah Wijaya told Antara.

Under provincial administration regulations, the guides are subject to fines ranging from Rp 50,000 to Rp 250,000 (between US$22 and $113) for various violations.

The Bali administration has made traditional clothing mandatory for guides working at sacred places like temples. (pan)