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Tourists from other countries who want to visit the Indonesian island of Bali will now be required to pay a tourist tax of $10 (£7.70) per person before being allowed to enter the popular destination for backpackers.
Starting today (February 14th), a 150,000 rupiah fee will be charged in an effort to protect the cultural authenticity of the island and address an increase in disruptive behavior from tourists.
Visitors coming from other countries will need to electronically pay the fee once before or during their trip to Bali. Indonesian citizens traveling within the country will not have to pay the tax.
The governor of the island, I Wayan Koster, stated that the tax would be allocated towards environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and the construction of improved infrastructure to enhance the safety and comfort of visitors to Indonesia’s renowned island.
In 2023, Bali’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported that over four million international tourists visited the island, with Australians being the majority.
The Bali Provincial Government’s “Love Bali” campaign aims to provide financial aid to promote sustainable and eco-friendly tourism on the island.
“They stated that efforts and innovations will persist in preserving Bali’s culture and natural environment. Additionally, there will be ongoing advancements in the quality of services.”
The new levy coincides with Indonesia’s national elections on Wednesday, 14 February. Foreign Office advice urges British travellers to be “more vigilant in the weeks before and after the vote,” when entering Indonesian holiday destinations.
Bali is not the initial major vacation destination to address the impact of overtourism through implementing entrance fees.
Starting this spring, visitors to the popular Italian destination Venice will be required to pay €5 (£4.26) to enter the historic center near the canals. This fee will be collected through a ticketing system in order to control the amount of people entering the area.
The first phase of the plans will consist of a 30-day trial period. Certain individuals, such as commuters, students, and tourists staying overnight in the city, may be exempt from the plans.
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