Bali begins imposing $10 tax on foreign tourists

Tourists in Bali, Indonesia. (Photo: AFP/VNA) — Tourists in Bali, Indonesia

Indonesia's "resort paradise" Bali has started imposing a tax of 150,000 rupiah ($10) on foreign tourists arriving from February 13 to preserve the culture of this "island of the gods".

“This tax is to protect Bali’s culture and environment,” said Bali’s acting governor, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya.

Foreigners or visitors from abroad arriving in Bali must pay a $10 fee through the online portal "Love Bali." The tax will not apply to domestic Indonesian tourists.

Nearly 4.8 million tourists visited Bali between January and November 2023 as the island continued to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to official figures.

Bali relies heavily on tourism, which attracts millions of foreign visitors each year. The Balinese government is trying to capitalize on this to boost revenue and help preserve the tropical island's appeal.

Last year, the Bali government issued a guide for tourists visiting Bali after a series of incidents involving behavior deemed disrespectful to the culture of the predominantly Hindu island, including foreign tourists posing nude at sacred sites and flashing lights on the streets.

TB (according to VNA)

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