The acting governor of Bali, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, believes that foreign tourists in Bali who fail to pay the tourist tax should be fined and imprisoned. Currently, he says, there are no sanctions in place to deal with non-compliant visitors.
"In the future, we could introduce a fine of at least 10 times the tax amount or a week in jail. That way, they will definitely pay," the acting governor of Bali stated confidently.
He also called for incentives to be given to individuals and organizations that assist in collecting the tourist tax. This payment, according to Sang Made, serves as a filter to check whether a foreigner is truly a tourist who "has something in their pockets."
The tax was introduced almost seven months ago, and the payment amount is 150,000 rupiah (less than $10). According to local authorities, the measure has not been effectively implemented—many tourists fail to pay the tax. The process, however, is simple, with a dedicated website providing clear instructions. You can also find detailed instructions on other platforms.
Accepted payment methods include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and bank transfers through the QRIS system. Cash payments are also possible at the arrival zone in Bali’s airport.
The funds collected through the tax are intended for infrastructure development, environmental projects, and other tourism-related initiatives. A significant portion of the funds is planned to be used for waste collection and disposal. So far, 211.8 billion Indonesian rupiah has been collected.
Sources: antaranews.com
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