Bali’s $10 tourist tax takes effect for foreigners: Here’s what you need to know

The tourist tax comes into effect from Wednesday.

Foreign tourists must now pay a $10 tax to enter Bali, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.according to British Broadcasting CorporationThe tourist tax, first announced last year, comes into effect from Wednesday. The Indonesian government said the move was aimed at protecting the culture and environment of the “Island of the Gods”. Applicable to foreign tourists entering our province from abroad or other parts of the country. But domestic tourists, diplomatic visa holders and ASEAN nationals are exempt from duty, officials said.

“This levy is aimed at protecting Bali’s culture and environment,” Bali’s acting governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya said. AFP.

This tax applies to all international travelers regardless of age and gender, including children. Tourists must pay the tax every time they arrive in Bali. The fee must be paid electronically through the “Love Bali” online portal and is applicable to foreign tourists entering Bali from abroad or other parts of Indonesia. British Broadcasting Corporation the report said.

Tourists who do not want to pay online can also pay at arrival points such as airports and seaports via a variety of payment methods, including credit card, bank transfer, virtual account or QRIS (a QR code standard developed by Bank Indonesia and Indonesian Payments Corporation) nationwide. Cashless Payment Systems Association.

Bali is famous for its pristine beaches and beautiful scenery. It is one of the most popular destinations for tourists. According to official figures, nearly 4.8 million tourists visited the province between January and November last year.this British Broadcasting Corporation According to reports, before the epidemic, tourism also contributed about 60% to Bali’s annual GDP.

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The media quoted the province’s Bureau of Statistics as saying that in November 2023, Australia was Bali’s largest source of foreign tourists, with more than 100,000 arrivals. This is followed by tourists from India, China and Singapore.

However, inappropriate behavior by tourists in Bali in recent years has sparked outrage among locals. Last year, a Russian man was deported after stripping off his clothes at a sacred site in Bali. That same year, the Indonesian government also announced plans to ban foreign tourists from using motorcycles after a series of violations of traffic laws. Last year, the local government also published an etiquette guide for tourists who want to travel to Bali.