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Bali Set To Punish Travelers Who Do Not Pay Tourism Tax Levy In 2025

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The Bali Provincial Government has confirmed that they will be implementing stricter rules regarding the Bali Tourism Tax Levy.

The mandatory tourism tax was introduced on the 14th of February, 2024, but with over 60% of tourists failing to pay their way, leaders want to crack down on tourists dodging the IDR 150,000 fee. 

Woman Stands By Bali Handara Gate.jpg

Speaking to reporters, the Head of the Bali Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, explained that the incoming provincial government will revise the Regional Regulation (Perda) Number 6 of 2023 concerning Levies for Foreign Tourists policy.

When the policy was introduced it was implemented as a legal requirement for all international tourists visiting the region, however, the policy did not list any punishments, or fines for tourists found to be dodging the fee.

With the combination of no incentive to pay and the payment process being viewed by many as an additional hassle while planning a vacation to the island, there have been very few people who have made their contribution.

Pemayun has confirmed that the government is working seriously on introducing punishments for those who do not pay the fee.

He explained, “This means that we will discuss this sanction again, now to be more specific about what is meant by the prohibition of tourism. Now, we want to emphasize the sanction again.”

Earlier this year, when early data sets revealed just 40% of tourists were paying the fee, leaders discussed introducing large fines and even jail time for those caught not paying the tax.

Back in September 2024, the Acting Governor of Bali, Sang Made Mahendra Jaya, told reporters, “If there are no sanctions, no, we can’t do anything if they don’t pay. In the future, there will be sanctions with a minimum penalty of ten times (the tourism tax fee) or a week of imprisonment; they must pay.” Though no policy changes have been implemented yet. 

The Acting Governor shared his understanding with tourists who may not know about the program or are overwhelmed with the number of things they have to arrange and navigate upon arrival on the island.

He explained, “The travel time for overseas flights is [on average] five to six hours; how many hours have they spent in the VoA queue, then immigration, then customs, now the Bali Tourism Office? How many hours do they have to queue at the airport?”

Autogate-Not-Allowing-Entry-To-Country-Airport

Pemayun did concede, however, that more can be done to make it easier for tourists to pay the fee, especially prior to their arrival in the province.

He explained, “Of the 40 percent [who have paid], 90 percent have paid before arriving in Bali or even more.” He revealed that by the start of December 2024, the Bali Provincial Government had received IDR 300 billion in tourism tax revenue, around USD 185 million. 

Busy-Tourists-at-Tanah-Lot-Temple

He also shared his observation that most tourists are still unaware of the IDR 150,000 mandatory fee. While there is a dedicated payment counter at the arrivals hall at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, it is easy for tourists to walk past.

Though it is possible to pay the Bali Tourism Tax Levy online prior to arrival in Bali via the LoveBali website or app, it’s not a widely advertised scheme. Marketing and communication initiatives from the Bali Provincial Government have often been short-lived.

Leaders have called for more cooperation from within the tourism industry and have requested that accommodation providers and travel agents do more to communicate the mandatory tax to guests. 

Pura-Besakih-at-Sunrise

The Bali Provincial Government has been conducting spot checks on tourists at the island’s leading cultural landmarks, including destinations like Tanah Lot Temple. Tourists should have their QR-code vouchers easily accessible in case they are stopped by Bali Tourism Office staff. 

Should tourists be found not to have paid the Bali Tourism Tax Levy fee, they will be asked to pay the tax on the spot via card. Tourists can make their IDR 150,000 contribution on the Love Bali website before arriving in Bali to make sure they are on the right side of the law. 

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Shorty

Monday 30th of December 2024

Can we stop the repetitive, ineffectual whinges? They achieve and have achieved nothing.

Transparency on how collected monies are spent?

Check your own home country. Money collected goes to Consolidated Revenue.

It's not until annual budget papers are released you see how it's being allocated.

Even then, it's not collection specific.

MJ

Saturday 28th of December 2024

It really makes you wonder how incompetent people around the world make it into politics.

Paul Morris

Sunday 29th of December 2024

@MJ, With the help of brain dead voters, fancy voting Costa back in as Governor after he did nothing to help his people during the pandemic, just filled his pockets with donations meant for the Balinese people. He was the fool that introduced the tourist tax now he is back to get his share what a grub.

Komang

Saturday 28th of December 2024

People will just go to Thailand. It has already started and Bali businesses are suffering big time this Christmas season. It isn't because of $15 scam, I mean tax. It is because of just one more vs the government here is doing to cheat. No transparency of where the money goes. Why would anyone want to pay it? I know of at least 10 aussie famillies that decod d to vacation this Xmas season in Thailand. I asked them, and they just said because of the trash, the traffic, the scam taxis and scam money changers and now the scam tax. They are just fed up with it and won't come back here anymore. These stories are real and they will be the death of the tourism industry and the balinese will be left with a concrete jungle.

Jason

Thursday 26th of December 2024

Is the ticket office before you clear customs or afterwards? Surely common sense says that a tax office before clearing customs and giving your ticket to the official and you are good to go, you can’t blame tourists for incompetence in the setup

Sven

Sunday 29th of December 2024

@Jason, they can't put it before customs office, because it's not Indonesian national tax that could be enforced via Indonesian legal system. Instead it's a local "donation" box outside of the airport legal zone. Don't pay it, as these corrupt muppets don't deserve any dollars to begin with.

Exp

Saturday 28th of December 2024

@Jason, Located at the last corner of the infuriating meandering exit path. At this point most people are just feed up and are geared up to look for their pre-booked driver, guide. Nobody are stressing out to find any tourist tax pay counter.

Bali Lover

Thursday 26th of December 2024

To all the people who say, ”It’s only $15AUD”, well, it’s only $15 on top of the $50 I already paid for the VOA, making a grand total of $65 per person.That’s a lot for any family on holiday, as not all Westerners are mega wealthy, contrary to popular belief. Thailand ,Fiji & Vietnam, the main competitors to Bali don’t charge this much for entry, and are either free or less than Bali to enter. And whilst Bali is my destination of choice, I see past mismanagement of the tourist dollar, when compared to these other destinations, and Bali has been a tourist hotspot for much longer. So excuse me if I have genuine concerns about whether the $165M USD raised so far, isn’t just going into the pockets of already wealthy individuals or government officials. Either show positive investment and institute an easier collection process, or scrap it altogether, as it’s embarrassing to watch how this tax has failed to be implemented so far to date.

Exp

Friday 27th of December 2024

@Bali Lover, The IDR 300 billion amount collected is approx. USD 19 million. Typo in the article.