Bali introduces tax for foreign tourists: what it means

16 February 01:48

Bali has introduced a tax of 150,000 rupiah (approximately $9.6) for foreign tourists entering the island, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. This is reported by the with reference to the BBC.

This new initiative, which has been launched, aims to raise financial resources for environmental protection and preservation of the island’s cultural values. It is noted that the fee is paid only by foreigners arriving in the province from abroad or other regions of the country, excluding domestic Indonesian tourists.

Travellers are asked to pay before arrival via the Love Bali website.

Bali is famous for its pristine beaches and surfing waves, as well as beautiful scenery.

Statistics show that from January to November last year, almost 4.8 million tourists visited the island, with the largest number coming from Australia. This was followed by tourists from India, China and Singapore.

Prior to thepandemic, tourism accounted for a significant portion of Bali’s annual GDP, accounting for around 60%.

In recent years, the behaviour of tourists on the island has caused outrage among the local population. For example, last March, a Russian man was deported from Bali after he took off his clothes on Mount Agung, which is believed by Hindus to be the home of the gods.

In the same month, authorities announced that they planned to ban foreign tourists from riding motorcycles after a series of incidents involving traffic violations.

In 2021, outrage was sparked when a three-minute video of a Russian couple having sex on Mount Batur, another holy site, circulated.

This led to the introduction of various restrictions as well as increased visitor control measures.

Остафійчук Ярослав
Editor