The Indonesian island of Bali will start imposing a 150,000 rupiah (9 euro) tax on tourists from Wednesday for the preservation of the “Island of the Gods”, the authorities announced, informs AFP, quoted by Agerpres.
The volcanic island with its fine sand beaches, which attracts millions of foreign visitors every year, wants to strengthen its finances to combat the unwanted effects of tourism.
“This tax aims to protect the culture and environment of Bali“acting Bali Governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya said at a launch ceremony on Monday.
Fee, paid online
The tax will apply to foreign tourists arriving in Bali from abroad or other regions of Indonesia and will have to be paid online through the “Love Bali” portal, according to a statement.
Bali, Indonesia. PHOTO Archive
The tax will not apply to Indonesian tourists.
Acting Bali Governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya said online payment would reduce queues for arriving visitors.
Between January and November last year, around 4.8 million tourists visited Bali, according to official figures, while the island's tourism sector, which suffered a lot from the COVID-19 pandemic due to border closures, continues to recover.
The majority Hindu population of the island, shocked by some behavior of foreign tourists
The tropical island has pledged to crack down on tourist misbehavior following a series of incidents, particularly involving foreigners who undressed in temples and sacred sites, shocking the island's majority Hindu population.
In 2023, the local government published a guide for tourists arriving in Bali explaining what behaviors to avoid.
