22-6-2024 (DENPASAR) Officials in Bali, Indonesia, are proposing a significant increase in the existing IDR150,000 (S$12.30) tourism tax, with the aim of attracting “high-quality” tourists to the island and deterring unruly visitors.
If approved, the tourism tax would soar by five times to IDR750,000 (S$61.60), a move that local authorities believe will help filter out tourists who disregard local culture and norms, and flout the island’s rules and regulations.
The IDR150,000 tourism tax was introduced on February 14, 2024, but local authorities have reportedly faced difficulties in collecting the tax from all incoming tourists. Despite this challenge, the tourism tax has generated IDR117 billion (S$9.6 million) as of June 2024, according to reports from the Bali Sun.
As tourists continue to flock to the island in droves, Bali officials are determined to stamp out and keep out unruly, misbehaving tourists, and only welcome visitors they consider “high-quality.”
On June 19, officials suggested increasing the tourism tax as one method to achieve this goal, as reported by CNN Indonesia and Detik Bali.
Gede Komang Kresna Budi, the chairman of the Bali People’s Representative Council, stated that the current IDR150,000 fee is “too low,” making Bali seem like a “cheap tourist destination.” He argued that unruly tourists, who tend to have lower spending power, are more likely to disregard local culture and norms, and flout the island’s rules and regulations.
Consequently, Budi believes that increasing the tourism tax would deter such visitors, and the funds generated could be used to boost tourism initiatives, such as the formation of a dedicated tourism police force.
On June 21, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, the head of the Bali Tourism Office, confirmed that local authorities are reviewing the tourism tax and are seriously considering increasing it.
Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, Bali’s acting governor, has also stated that he will study the proposal to increase the tourism tax.
