Tourists heading to Bali during this high season are reminded that the Bali Tourism Tax Levy is a mandatory requirement. In the 2024/25 tax year, only 35% of eligible tourists paid their fees.
Moving into the 2025 high season, leaders are initiating new efforts to ensure that tourists don’t dodge the fee.
One of the biggest reasons tourists have been failing to make their Bali Tourism Tax Levy payment is that they simply aren’t aware of it. While all tourists are aware that they need to arrange a visa on arrival for their vacation, far fewer are aware that they are also required to make the tax payment.
The Bali Tourism Tax Levy was introduced on February 14, 2024, and is a legal requirement for all international tourists and visitors to the island, including children and babies.
The tourism tax is charged at IDR 150,000 and can be paid on arrival at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, online on the LoveBali website and app, or at a range of tourist attractions around the island.
Tourists can also make the payment on the spot if a Tourism Task Force Officer stops them and they are yet to make their contribution.
Tourists who have paid their fees are issued with a QR-code voucher as proof of payment, and this QR-code may be requested by Tourism Task Force Officers, police officers, and other government officials.
Yet, despite the tax being a legal requirement for all tourists for only a year, millions of Bali’s arrivals are unaware of what is expected of them. Bali’s Tourism Office has been open about the policy needing to be better communicated to inbound tourists and that it needs to be easier for tourists to pay their fees.
Tourism expert Ravindra Singh Shekhawat spoke to reporters about the tourism tax levy. He shared, “Tourists are unaware of the tax or requirement to pay on or before arrival. There isn’t much info about where to pay or how to pay and it’s now well enforced.”
He added, “You can just walk out of the airport, nobody is checking.” Shekhawat, who is the General Manager for Indonesia at Intrepid, is calling on international travelers, especially those from Australia who are the most frequent arrivals to Bali, to pay the fee. He noted, “We can help Bali become a better tourist destination.”
The initial thinking behind the Bali Tourism Tax Levy was to help generate funds to conserve culture, nurture nature, and level up tourism infrastructure. The Bali Provincial Government has already disrupted the first round of tax funding directly to traditional village leaders throughout the province to use as they see fit.
Moving forward the Bali Tourism Office and the Bali Provincial Government will be working together to make it harder for tourists to avoid paying the fee. Although it is mandatory and a legal requirement, there are no formal legal implications for not paying the fee. If caught tourists are asked to pay the IDR 150,000 on the spot via a card payment.
During a hearing at the Bali House of Representatives last month, political leaders backed plans to update Regional Regulation Number 6 of 2023 concerning Levy for foreign tourists and implement sanctions for those caught dodging the payment.
Senator Suwirta told the House “We, the PDI Perjuangan Faction, the Bali Provincial DPRD agree to the amendment to the Regulation on Foreign Tourist Levies for the Protection of Bali’s Culture and Natural Environment, as long as the formulation aspects of the changes are able to strengthen legal certainty, maintain harmony and conformity, and guarantee the sustainability of the objectives of the Draft Regulation.”
As the new policies are developed, tourists must be sure to make their payment at the LoveBali website or app prior to their departure from Bali or at the dedicated counter at Bali Airport upon arrival.
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Wim
Thursday 29th of May 2025
The problem is that it is not an Indonesian tax but a greed tax from Balinese officials and customs does not cooperate with that.
And then rudely tell that there will be checks at attractions what kind of papers do you have to carry with you as a tourist.
Crazy greedy officials.
Viktor Z
Friday 30th of May 2025
@Wim,
Seems that the authorities didn’t check your papers yet..
As you’re no added value to the island it should be one way to Schiphol.
Firechef
Wednesday 28th of May 2025
Yep, pay your fee, government officials need the money for new cars. Year old old cars are not suitable for prestige of puffed up thieving officials.
Shorty
Tuesday 27th of May 2025
' One of the biggest reasons tourists have been failing to make their Bali Tourism Tax Levy payment is that they simply aren’t aware of it.'
Bull****.
The biggest reasons are the poor design and implementation.
Istvan
Monday 26th of May 2025
The problrm there is not any control about the TAX the people if you ask on the airport they dont know😡they cant give you an answer about Tax some not even know about this TAX. How stupid is that. And the TAX is to low.
Lynne
Friday 30th of May 2025
@Istvan, the tourist levy is not an immigration initiative.
Steve bm
Tuesday 27th of May 2025
@Istvan, you can't miss it it's on the right as your walking past it
Amius Deveraux
Monday 26th of May 2025
The issue is it wasn't implemented properly,we all know that. So instead of blaming the bule completely, maybe look at who is responsible for the setting up of the tax collectionin the first place. The simplest and easiest way would have been to increase VOA, but no, that would have been too easy. Not a cent should have been lost. Still we have not seen or been given any proof of where these funds are being spent. Definitely not on the roads...which are 3rd world in so many areas of the tourist hot spots, the new Sanur Harbour, its only 2 years old and is falling apart and dangerous to tourists, Sanur boardwalk has become unsightly again for the most part and let's not get me started on the state of the airport.So much to be done, but need the right team of people to do it.
Firechef
Wednesday 28th of May 2025
@Amius Deveraux, Ya, I also would like to know where that money is going. Perhaps if All tourists would stop paying the tax until there is visible proof that the money is used as it is supposed to be used. Not into the politicians pocket.