Bali’s Kintamani is one of the fastest-growing destinations on the island. Located in the landlocked Bangli Regency, Kintamani has long been seen as the gateway to Mount Batur.
Over the last few years, however, Kintamani has blossomed into a destination in its own right, and to help keep things sustainable, entry fees have been introduced.
The Kintamani Special Tourism Area (KSPK) covers most of the Kintamani area, including Jalan Raya Penelokan, which is the main high street, and the whole of the Lake Batur shoreline.
In order to access the Kintamani Special Tourism Area, tourists pay an IDR 25,000 fee. Although Kintamani has been an official tourism destination since 1993, and despite entry fees being in place for years, many visitors are still unaware of the mandatory entry ticket system.
Initially, entry fees were managed by the Bintang Danu Foundation, but now the process is managed by the Bangli Regency Tourism Office. When the Bangli Tourism Office took over implementation, the payment rules became stricter. Back in the day, it was easy enough to arrive in Kintamani earlier than staff clocked in for the day, and it was possible to drive right past the ticket booths without paying.
Over the last few months, with interest in visits to Kintamani increasing rapidly, there has been more talk about the Kintamani Special Tourism Area fee.
Understandably, some tourists thought that the fee was some kind of moneymaking scam, but we here at The Bali Sun can confirm that it is a legit thing. Tourists who pay the IDR 25,000 fee should be issued with a dated ticket that they can keep close by for the duration of their time in Kintamani, in case tourism officers wish to check.
At the moment, tourists heading into the Kintamani Special Tourism Area may pay on arrival.
There are five official payment points at the Jalan Raya Penelokan intersection, the Batur Geopark Museum junction, Jalan Raya Sekaan, near the special cemetery in the south of Batur Traditional Village, Jalan Sekardadi, and one post on the south side of Pura Dalem Batur.
Following concerns from tourists about the legitimacy of the system, the Bangli Tourism Office is now working to make the process more formalised. All ticketing staff must now wear uniforms, tickets must always be issued, and payments must be taken at the payment booths, not out on the street nearby.
The Head of the Bangli Tourism and Culture Office, Wayan Dirga Yusa, has spoken to reporters to share updates about how the payment system will be changed to help provide greater ease of payment and more transparency.
Many have noted that transparency needs to be improved since funds generated by the tourism fees are supposed to be spent on improving infrastructure, public services, and tourism-specific services in the area.
Yusa explained that as of July, a new system will be introduced that will help increase the number of visits to Kintamani and improve accountability all around. The Bangli Tourism Office will be partnering with local tourism businesses, such as cafes and shops, who will become both Kintamani Special Tourism Area fee vendors and ticket checkers.
He explained, “Vendors will provide equipment, supervisors, checkers, and various points.” In return, participating businesses will get a cut of the tourist entry fee revenue. He explained, “The estimated share is around 5 to 10 percent. Nothing has been agreed upon yet.”
Yusa shared hopes that the new digital system, coupled with the new partnerships, will help increase the number of payments.
He noted how, at present, through the manual system, only 800 visits are recorded per day, which is likely far lower than the actual number of visitors. Yusa explained, “Our target with this new system is to record 1,200 to 2,000 per day.”
He confirmed that the current ticketing officers who are stationed at the exiting payment booths will not be laid off when the new system comes into effect, but will be reassigned to manage tourist facilities across Kintamani, including the Tourist Information Center and the amphitheater.
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