New Bali Tourist Entry Tax Starts on February 14, Legal News, ET LegalWorld

New Bali Tourist Entry Tax Starts on February 14, Legal News, ET LegalWorld


Bali Provincial Government will officially impose a tourism tax for foreign tourists starting February 14, 2024. A regional regulation regarding entry fees for foreign tourists in Bali was officially enacted in Nov. 2023. Each foreign visitor will have to pay Rp150,000 (or Rs. 800). The payment will be implemented through an app dubbed Love Bali introduced by the Bali Regional Government.

This levy is a one-time payment during their entire stay in Bali. The accepted method of payment is cashless, facilitated through Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI).

This policy aims at overcoming the waste problem in Bali better, preserving Balinese culture, and purifying Balinese customs. The policy also becomes one of the solutions for the over-tourism issue on the Island of the Gods.

Tour operators specified that this new tax will be collected either in cash or via Visa and Mastercard payment at Denpasar Airport. To complete the payment, foreign visitors will need to visit a designated counter, present their passport, pay the tax, and receive a QR code for future reference during the check-in process.

The payment will only be possible using Visa and Mastercard, UnionPay cards will not be accepted. Exchange offices will be available at Denpasar Airport, allowing the tax to be paid in US dollars. Alternatively, the tax can be paid directly on the island.

The tax payment system includes the registration of hotels, cafes, restaurants, and other tourist establishments. Departure verification will be conducted to ensure compliance. Another option is to pay the new tax would be online payment through the application by entering passport-like data and receiving a QR code for presentation during verification.

According to the information provided by Bali tour operators, only Visa and Mastercard credit cards will be accepted for payment. Chinese-issued China UnionPay cards, preferred by Chinese tourists, will not be accepted. In case of the tourists leaving Bali, such as for a trip to a nearby island, there will be no requirement to repay the tax, local tour operators said. The tax will remain in effect until the visitors depart from Indonesia.

The policy is considered to be supported by tourists as preserving culture and the environment in Bali must also be a top priority.

  • Published On Feb 13, 2024 at 01:54 AM IST

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