5-2-2024 (JAKARTA) Tourists, including Singaporean visitors, will soon be required to pay a tourism tax of 150,000 rupiah (S$12.80) when they travel to Bali, Indonesia, starting from February 14. The tax will be applicable to tourists visiting mainland Bali as well as its surrounding islands such as Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan. Even tourists arriving from other parts of Indonesia via land or domestic flights will be subject to this tax, and it applies to both adults and children.
As the tax is collected per entry, travelers who plan to explore nearby destinations like Lombok and the Gili Islands will need to pay an additional 150,000 rupiah when they return to Bali, as these areas lie outside of the Bali province.
Tjok Bagus Pemayun, the tourism chief of Bali, initially announced the implementation of the tourism tax in September 2023. He assured that the payment process could be completed within 23 seconds at airport counters, as reported by The Bali Sun. However, a recent official notice encourages tourists to pay the tax through the Love Bali website or app before their departure. Upon payment, tourists will receive a tourism levy voucher via email, which they should save on their phones for scanning upon arrival at Bali airports or seaports.
The Bali provincial authorities have stated that the tax collected will be utilized to enhance tourist services, preserve Balinese culture, and protect the environment. Bali is among several destinations grappling with the challenges of overtourism and the resulting environmental pollution, including excessive plastic waste on the coastlines.
In recent years, tensions between locals and foreigners have also escalated due to incidents involving misbehaving tourists, such as engaging in illegal work, disrespecting religious sites, driving under the influence of alcohol, and making illicit payments using cryptocurrencies.
Despite these challenges, Bali’s tourism authority expects to welcome seven million tourists to the island in 2024, an increase of approximately 1.8 million compared to the 5.2 million arrivals in 2023. The Indonesian government aims to attract 14 million visitors to the country in 2024, with a target revenue of 200 trillion rupiah.
While Singaporeans and other ASEAN nationals can visit Indonesia visa-free for up to 30 days, other tourists are required to pay an additional 500,000 rupiah for a 30-day visa upon arrival, in addition to the upcoming tourism tax.
Earlier in January, there were plans to impose an entertainment tax of up to 75% on services provided in karaoke lounges, nightclubs, and spas. However, these plans were later abandoned in early February due to opposition from business owners and hospitality industry players who feared that such a tax would deter tourists from visiting the country.
