Bali begins collecting tourism tax.

Indonesian officials in Bali have announced they will begin collecting a 150,000 rupiah tax from tourists to preserve the local culture.

A tourist tax for visitors to Bali came into effect on February 14th and must be paid through the online payment gateway "Love Bali". The tax is 150,000 rupiah (US$10) per visitor per trip to Bali, and only applies to those from overseas or other regions of Indonesia.

"This tax aims to protect Bali's culture and environment," said Bali's acting governor, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, at the announcement of the tourism tax on February 12.

Bali relies heavily on revenue from the millions of foreign tourists who visit annually. Indonesian government figures show that nearly 4.8 million tourists visited the island between January and November 2023, as Bali recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Japanese tourists fill out health declaration forms at an airport in Bali, Indonesia, in February 2022. Photo: AFP

Popular tourist destinations in Indonesia are also cracking down on misbehaving tourists, following a series of incidents showing disrespect to the island's predominantly Hindu culture. In recent years, Bali has seen numerous cases of foreign tourists taking nude photos at sacred sites and flashing their cameras in the streets.

Last year, the Bali authorities had to issue a handbook outlining what tourists are allowed and not allowed to do when visiting the island.

Some requirements for tourists visiting Bali include respecting the sacredness and solemnity of temples and religious symbols, as well as dressing modestly and respectfully, especially when visiting holy sites in the country.

Tourists are not permitted to engage in any behavior that disrespects religious sites and symbols. This includes climbing sacred places and wearing indecent clothing when taking photos. Tourists are also prohibited from littering, polluting rivers, lakes, and public places, climbing trees considered sacred in Bali, and many other strict requirements.

Thanh Tam (According to AFP, The Bali Sun )

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