Bali’s tourism landscape is about to change, with the island set to enforce stricter regulations on foreign tourist levy. Starting soon, international visitors who haven’t settled their levy payments won’t be allowed entry to Bali. This move, announced by the Bali Provincial Government (Pemprov) and the Bali Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), aims to revise the current tourist levy system in order to boost compliance.
The revision of Regional Regulation No. 6 of 2023 will specifically target the enforcement of the levy, which has been underperforming in terms of collection. Tjokorda Bagus Pemayun, the Head of Bali’s Tourism Office, shared his thoughts on the matter during a meeting with the DPRD Bali on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
“This means we will reexamine the sanctions to clarify what ‘prohibited from sightseeing’ actually means. The sanctions will be reinforced,” he stated.
Pemayun openly acknowledged that the tourist levy had not been fully effective. “Only 40% of foreign tourists have paid the levy,” he revealed. Among the paying tourists, 90% had settled their dues online before even arriving in Bali. “For instance, from a total of Rp 100 billion, Rp 90 billion came through online payments,” he added.
By December 2024, Bali had accumulated a total of Rp 300 billion from the foreign tourist levy. In an effort to increase payments, Pemayun emphasized the importance of broadening the payment channels through collaboration with relevant parties. However, discussions about increasing the levy rates were postponed for now, as the policy remains in its early stages.
“The operators on the ground need to confirm the legal basis of this,” Pemayun said, underlining the need for careful legal validation. He also noted that many tourists are still unaware of the levy. To address this, he and his team have been actively reaching out to tourists and local stakeholders to spread awareness.
“Socialization is key. It’s not just a few instances; we’re continuously monitoring tourist destinations and actively engaging with visitors,” Pemayun explained.
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Since the levy was implemented on February 14, 2024, Bali has recorded Rp 287 billion in revenue, based on payments collected from foreign tourists through September. Each foreign tourist is required to pay a fee of USD 10 (approximately Rp 150,000). However, this revenue only reflects the 40% of visitors who have paid the levy, according to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), which reports approximately 4.7 million foreign tourists visited Bali. This means 60% of international visitors have yet to make the payment.
The levy, as stipulated in the Regional Regulation of Bali No. 6 of 2023, is designed to support the preservation of Bali’s cultural heritage and natural environment. The funds collected will be used for the protection of local customs, arts, and traditions, as well as for the conservation of the island’s environmental attractions. Additionally, the levy will fund improvements in tourism services and cultural tourism management. This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure sustainable tourism development while maintaining Bali’s unique cultural identity.
