Foreign travelers now have to pay a $10 tax to enter Bali, one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations. The BBC reports that the tourist fee, announced last year, went into effect on Wednesday. The Indonesian government stated that this measure is intended to preserve the culture and ecosystem of the “Island of Gods”. It applies to international tourists arriving in the province from overseas or other regions of the country. Domestic visitors, diplomatic visa holders, and ASEAN nationals are immune from the fee, officials added.
According to AFP, Bali’s acting governor, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, stated that the levy aims to maintain the island’s culture and ecosystem.
The fee applies to all international travelers, regardless of age or gender, including minors. Tourists would have to pay the charge every time they come in Bali. According to the BBC, foreign tourists entering Bali from outside or other parts of Indonesia will need to pay an electronic fee through the “Love Bali” internet portal.
Tourists who do not want to pay online can pay at arrival points such as airports and seaports using a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, bank transfers, virtual accounts, or QRIS, a QR code standard developed by Bank Indonesia and the Indonesian Payment System Association for cashless payments in the country.
Bali is famous for its pristine beaches and stunning scenery. It is one of the most popular tourist spots. According to government data, nearly 4.8 million tourists visited the region between January and November of last year. Prior to the pandemic, tourism accounted for over 60% of Bali’s annual GDP, according to the BBC.
According to the province’s statistics agency, Australia was the leading source of foreign tourists to Bali in November 2023, with over 100,000 arrivals. This was followed by visitors from India, China, and Singapore.
However, unruly visitors in Bali have caused fury among locals in recent years. Last year, a Russian man was deported from Bali after stripping naked at a religious location. Following a series of traffic violations, the Indonesian government announced plans to prohibit foreign tourists from riding motorcycles the same year. Last year, the local government also released an etiquette guide for travelers planning to visit Bali.
