Bali Governor Writes Open Letter To Tourists Calling For Increased Cultural Respect 

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Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster has written an open letter to foreign tourists visiting the province. In the letter and accompanying video message, Governor Koster has thanked tourists for paying the Bali Tourism Tax Levy and called for more cooperation with the policy.

The update comes as Bali enters the peak travel season, when upwards of 60,000 people will arrive on the island each day. 

In his letter, Governor Koster focused on the Bali Tourism Tax. The policy was introduced in February 2024, but despite the tax being mandatory for all foreign visitors to the island for more than two years, alarmingly few tourists have paid it.

Governor Koster and other political leaders in Bali have been open about the need to improve the payment process to make compliance easier for tourists, but through issuing this letter, the Governor is clearly hopeful that more tourists will step up and respect the provincial law. 

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Governor Koster addressed the letter to the ‘valued and beloved foreign tourists traveling to Bali’. He wrote, “I, Wayan Koster, Governor of Bali, would like to express my highest gratitude and appreciation to all Foreign Tourists who have contributed by paying the Foreign Tourist Levy amounting to IDR 150,000, which has been implemented since February, 2024.”

In 2025, the number of Foreign Tourists visiting Bali reached 7.0 million people, of which 2.4 million people, or approximately 34%, contributed by paying the Foreign Tourist Levy, generating a total of IDR 369 billion. The funds obtained from the Foreign Tourist Levy have been utilized transparently by the Bali Provincial Government for the protection of culture and the natural environment.”

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He continued, “Bali is the main tourism destination in Indonesia, with more than 45% of Foreign Tourists to Indonesia traveling to Bali. In 2026, Bali was once again named the world’s best tourist destination and The Best Island in the Asia Pacific. With this recognition, tourism serves as the backbone of Bali’s economy, providing substantial benefits to the lives of the Balinese people, fostering prosperity and happiness in both the seen (Sakala) and unseen (Niskala) realms.”

The Governor noted how Balinese Hindu culture is at the forefront of the tourism sector in Bali and that all decisions are made in alignment with the island’s ancient philosophies and ways of life. He continued Our God, Hyang Widhi, has bestowed Bali with the finest blessings, granting it beautiful nature, a warm and welcoming society, and a rich and unique culture, all unified into a harmonious spiritual way of life.”

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“The Government, together with the people of Bali, is working diligently to address challenges related to culture, environment, infrastructure, and governance, in order to realize a culture-based, high-quality, dignified, and sustainable tourism system.”

In concluding his open letter to all international tourists set to visit the province this high season and beyond, he called for increased cultural respect and cooperation with provincial laws, customs, and guidelines. 

Governor Koster wrote, “In pursuit of these noble goals, I, Wayan Koster, Governor of Bali, representing the Government and the people of Bali, respectfully encourage all Foreign Tourists who love Bali to take part in preserving Bali and enhancing the competitiveness of Bali’s tourism through contributions to the Foreign Tourist Levy.”

“Payment of the Foreign Tourist Levy is encouraged to be made prior to departure through the Love Bali System, available via secure and reliable Web or Mobile platforms.”

He ended his open letter by saying, “Bali, the Island of the Gods, Our Home, Belonging to All of Us. Let Us Preserve It Together.”

In an additional statement issued alongside this open letter, Governor Koster also called for foreign tourists to comply with the Do’s and Don’ts guidelines that he published during his first term in office.

He noted, “All foreign tourists are required to comply with the Do’s and Don’ts guidelines during their stay as a collective effort to maintain high quality and dignified tourism in Bali. May the spiritual essence of Bali bring you comfort, peace, happiness, and renewed inspiration in achieving your best life.”