Bali begins imposing a new tax on foreign tourists

The Indonesian island of Bali on Wednesday began imposing a tax of 150,000 rupiah ($10 or 9 euros) on tourists aiming to preserve the “Island of the Gods,” authorities said.

The volcanic island with beautiful sandy beaches, which attracts millions of foreign visitors every year, wants to replenish its finances to combat the unwanted effects of tourism.

“This tax aims to protect the culture and environment of Bali,” Sang Med Mahindra Jaya, acting governor of Bali, said at the tax launch on Monday.

The fee must be paid online through the “Love Bali” portal and will be applied to foreign tourists arriving in Bali from abroad or from other parts of Indonesia, according to a press release.

However, the tax will not apply to Indonesian tourists.

The governor estimated that online payment would reduce the queues of arriving visitors.

About 4.8 million tourists visited Bali between January and November last year, according to official figures, while the tourism sector on the island, which suffered greatly from the Covid-19 pandemic due to the closure of borders, continues to recover.

The tropical island has vowed to crack down on tourist incivility after several incidents, including the presence of naked foreigners in temples or holy sites, shocking the island's Hindu majority.

Last year, the local government issued a guide for tourists to Bali explaining behaviors to avoid.