The Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, opposes raising Bali's tourist tax to $50.
His main argument is that the current tax, introduced only a few months ago in February 2024, requires every visitor to Bali to pay $10 or 150,000 rupiahs. Now, just four months later, discussions about increasing this amount fivefold are already taking place. Sandiaga Uno believes that such a drastic change in policy is not advisable.
He argues that the Indonesian government needs to conduct thorough research first and ensure that tourists from other countries have a positive experience when visiting the island. "We need to be able to prove to travelers that by paying $10 for a trip to Bali, and Indonesia in general, they are getting a safe, comfortable, enjoyable, and clean vacation. We must also continue to support cultural tourism," said Sandiaga.
He also highlighted the need to address waste management issues before making the island five times more expensive to enter. "This is our top priority before we change a policy that is less than six months old. If we keep changing our rules so frequently, the trust level in Indonesia in the eyes of stakeholders and the world will be questioned," he continued.
The minister does not rule out that the tax may indeed increase in the future. The main point, in his opinion, is that it should be necessary and justified. He hopes that the plans to raise the tax amount will not affect the quality and diversity of tourists visiting Indonesia. Sandiaga Uno is determined to make Indonesia one of the top 20 tourist destinations in the world. Currently, it ranks 22nd on the list.
Incidentally, to support this initiative, the government is establishing the Indonesian Quality Tourism Fund, with an initial capital of 2 trillion rupiahs. The main goal of the fund is to finance high-quality international tourism events, increase visitor numbers, and stimulate economic growth. Work in these areas is expected to begin in August this year, with funds allocated from the 2025 state budget. Therefore, it will not burden travelers as it is not related to tourism taxes, stated Sandiaga Uno.
"It has been decided that all events financed by the Indonesian Quality Tourism Fund will be under the direct supervision of the President," added the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy.
The events they plan to focus on initially include forums, conferences, exhibitions, and major concerts. All these are aimed at creating a national tourism brand, said Sandiaga Uno, adding: “In the future, these funds could be used to attract major sporting events, such as the World Cup.”
Previously, Ida Gede Komang Kresna Budi, the chairman of the Bali Parliament's Commission II, called the $10 tourist tax too low. In his opinion, Bali is being sold cheaply, so the tax should be raised to $50. Only then, he believes, will the provincial government be able to fully meet regional needs, and the level of travelers coming to the island will rise, attracting wealthy, intelligent, and well-mannered people.
You can add one right now!