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Visitors from other countries who plan to travel to the island of Bali in Indonesia will now be required to pay a tourist fee of $10 (£7.70) per person prior to entering this popular destination for backpackers.
Starting today (February 14th), a 150,000 rupiah fee will be implemented to maintain the cultural authenticity of the island and address an increase in disruptive conduct from tourists.
International visitors to Bali must pay a one-time fee electronically before or during their trip. The tax does not apply to domestic travelers from Indonesia.
The governor of the island, I Wayan Koster, stated that the tax will be allocated towards environmental conservation, preserving culture, and enhancing infrastructure to ensure a safer and more comfortable travel experience for visitors to Indonesia’s renowned island.
In 2023, Bali’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported that more than four million tourists from other countries visited Bali, with Australians being the most frequent visitors.
The Bali Provincial Government’s ‘Love Bali’ campaign declares that the additional financial aid will aid in the transition towards eco-friendly tourism on the island.
“We are committed to ongoing efforts and innovations to preserve the culture and natural environment in Bali. We are also dedicated to constantly improving the quality of services,” they stated.
The recently implemented tax aligns with the day of Indonesia’s national elections, which falls on Wednesday, February 14th. The Foreign Office is advising British tourists to exercise extra caution when traveling to Indonesian vacation spots in the weeks leading up to and following the election.
Bali is not the initial popular vacation spot to address the impact of excessive tourism by implementing admission fees.
Starting this spring, Venice, a popular destination in Italy, will implement a ticket system to control the influx of visitors entering the historic center via the canals. Daytrippers will be charged €5 (£4.26) for entry.
The initial implementation of the plans will consist of a 30-day trial period. There will be exceptions for commuters, students, and tourists who stay overnight in the city.
Source: independent.co.uk
