Starting February 2024, in addition to the visa fee, tourists in Bali are required to pay a $10 (or 150,000 IDR) tourist tax. However, most visitors ignore this rule, prompting local authorities to discuss potential sanctions for non-compliance. One proposed measure is to deny entry to the island for those who cannot present a QR code confirming tax payment.
Tourists can pay the tax online in advance, and approximately 40% of visitors do so. The rest simply skip the payment because there are almost no reminders about it in the arrival area, aside from a few banners that can easily go unnoticed in the hustle and bustle. Moreover, airport staff do not check for the QR code, allowing travelers to leave the airport without paying the tax. As a result, 60% of tourists bypass the tax entirely.
The provincial government of Bali and the island’s Regional House of Representatives have now agreed to review Regional Regulation (Perda) No. 6 of 2023 regarding fees for foreign tourists. During a meeting, they discussed methods for enforcing compliance and the possibility of banning non-payers from vacationing on the island.
“This specific sanction will be reviewed further to clarify what a travel ban entails. Once defined, we can confirm its implementation,” stated Tjokorda Bagus Pemayun, head of Bali’s Tourism Office.
In addition to clarifying sanctions, officials need to decide how to organize QR code checks at the airport without causing long queues in the arrival area. Collecting the tourist tax at hotels is also not feasible, as not all foreign visitors stay in hotels. This makes it difficult to monitor those who choose villas or other accommodations. In short, the tax collection system still needs improvement.
Pemayun also revealed that from February to December 2024, the government managed to collect only 300 billion IDR from foreign tourists. Notably, there has been no report on how these funds have been used.
As for raising the tourist tax, a topic previously discussed, no plans have been made to revisit this for now. Authorities aim to fine-tune the collection process first, given that the tax is still new.
On the other hand, some attractions in Bali already require visitors to present a QR code as proof of tax payment, and this approach will continue. It serves as a reminder for those unaware of or confused about the payment process at the airport upon arrival.
The revision of the regional regulation will be discussed during a plenary session between Bali’s DPRD (Regional House of Representatives) and the provincial government in early 2025.
You can add one right now!