Tourist Tax Collection Will Be Tightened on Nusa Penida

Now foreign tourists will have to pay a fee before arriving on the islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan. But first, the infrastructure needs to be prepared for this. Local authorities will be working on this in the near future.

According to Ni Made Sulistiavati, head of the tourism office in the Klungkung district, boat operators will now collect the visitation tax for Nusa Penida. The main idea is for them to simultaneously sell tickets to the popular island and collect the tax payment. To make the system fully operational, local officials will have to negotiate with 39 speedboat operators in Sanur, three on the coast of Kusamba, and others. After all, you can also reach Nusa Penida through the ports of Serangan in Denpasar and Padangbai in Karangasem.

Currently, tourists pay after arriving on Nusa Penida. And this system has two major problems. The first is the queues that arise when everyone who has just arrived tries to pay the tax. Travelers have to stand in line in the heat, and sometimes it spoils the first impression of the trip. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that more and more people arrive on the island each month. If in January 2024 there were 71,092 guests on Nusa Penida, then in February there were already 73,082.

The other problem is that it is currently difficult to track every arriving tourist. This is because many landing places cannot be monitored by collection service staff. Therefore, some people arrive on the island without paying the tax.

So, the change in the system should strengthen control to ensure that no tourist sneaks onto the island without paying. In addition, it will allow for the systematization of traveler lists, as the port collaborates with the Easybook app (the largest online ticket booking application). Accordingly, local authorities also expect to gain access to these lists.

Tourist tax on Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan has been paid by travelers since July 1, 2019. The price has not changed so far. It is 25,000 rupiahs for adults and 15,000 rupiahs for children.

The visitation tax for Nusa Penida is mandatory for everyone: both local travelers and foreigners. The only ones allowed not to pay it are those pursuing spiritual goals and not planning to visit tourist locations. However, this won't allow them to deceive the system. Additional control will be implemented at all tourist attractions. So those who cannot present a ticket (confirming payment of the tax) will be required to purchase one. Therefore, keep all documents and receipts until returning to Bali.

How quickly the tax payment process will be transferred to an online format and fully entrusted to boat operators depends on the results of negotiations. After all, all entrepreneurs who transport travelers to Nusa Penida, Lembongan, and Ceningan will need to join this process.

Sources: Detik Bali, Denpost, Tribun-Bali.