Bali Introduces a New Tourist Tax

Foreign tourist lie on a beach in Bali, Indonesia, on Dec. 7, 2022. (Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP via Getty Images)

Australians planning to visit Indonesia’s most famous tourism destination, Bali, need to pay attention to a new levy imposed by the local government to combat problems caused by international tourists.

This comes as Bali authorities are preparing to enforce the levy, which is in its infancy and still relatively unknown among tourists.

The levy was announced in 2023 and took effect in February, requiring travellers to pay around $15 (US$9.85) for each person (including children) when they visit Bali.

Local authorities came up with the new tax after a series of high-profile incidents in 2023 where international tourists’ bad behaviours caused uproar among Bali residents.

The tax was expected to generate around $80 million in revenue each year for the local government, which intended to use the proceeds to fund cultural preservation and environmental measures.

While the new levy has come into effect, Bali authorities have not strictly enforced the policy.

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According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), many Australian tourists travelling to the island during the Easter holiday were not asked to pay the tax, while others had to fork out money when they encountered police checks.

Ketut Yadnya, a tourism official, said the Bali government wanted to raise awareness among tourists while promoting the tax as a means to better manage the tourism influx.

“There’s no fine if you don’t pay, and tourists can still leave Bali at the airport. There’s no problem,” he said, as reported by the ABC.

“We just need their awareness when they come to Bali. They have to know that Bali needs something to protect their tourism.”

Over 5.2 million international tourists travelled to Bali in 2023, with an average of 439,000 visitors per month.

Australians were the largest group of international tourists, accounting for 27.8 percent of visitors (123,766) in December 2023.

International Tourist Scandals in Bali

While tourist bad behaviour is not anything new in Bali, a series of incidents in 2023 forced the local government to take action.

In April 2023, a Russian national made headlines when her nude pictures, which were taken under the sacred Kayu Putih Banyan Tree in the Tabanan district, went viral, prompting authorities to deport her.

One month later, a 28-year-old female German tourist stripped naked and stormed the stage during a sacred dance performance at a local temple.

The tourist was later arrested and sent to a mental hospital. Police said she had a history of mental issues.

Some Australian tourists were also reported to be involved in brawls at a local bar after getting drunk.

Apart from the new tax, Bali authorities also introduced a new set of guidelines for travellers in 2023 to tackle unruly behaviours.

Tourists were urged to respect religious places, customs, and traditions, dress modestly in sacred and public places, comply with all local rules, and use Indonesian currency when making transactions.

Aldgra Fredly contributed to this article.