The Indonesian Ombudsman has committed to examining allegations that tourism is being mismanaged in the country, with a special focus on Bali and, even more specifically, the Bali Tourism Tax Levy, which was introduced on the 14th of February 2024. There are increasing concerns that the policy has not delivered the changes it promised. On …
Tourism
Tourism leaders in Bali are calling for changes to be made to the way in which I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport is managed. Due to the high volumes of tourists that pass through the airport terminals every year, some leaders want to see the transportation hub managed in a more strategic way. The Chairman …
One of Ubud’s most loved hotels has just been listed among the best hotels in the world. The gorgeous Viceroy Bali has been winning big hospitality awards for over a decade, and the boutique retreat has done it again at the Luxury Hotel Awards. The Luxury Hotel Awards, hosted at the AYANA Bali in late …
Bali will be introducing a series of new policies that will help protect local taxi driver’s livelihoods. There will also be more strict enforcement of existing legislation. These updates will also have a knock-on effect on tourists and the public, hopefully for the better. Online taxi companies Grab and GoJek have agreed with the Bali …
A German tourist has been rapidly deported from Bali after he was apprehended by immigration officials after hiking Mount Agung without a guide. Although it has always been the case that hikers must hire a local guide in order to embark on the route, new legislation was brought into effect this month that makes it …
The topic of the impact of foreign investment in Bali is hot on everyone’s lips right now. As the incoming Governor and Deputy Governor prepare to start their term, there is a huge conversation happening around how best to control, and in some cases limit, the way in which international investors can operate businesses in …
Bali is on a mission to welcome at least 6.5 million international tourists in 2025. In order to achieve this, the Bali Province Tourism Office wants to highlight the island’s incredible lineup of events happening this year so that visitors can time their trips for extra special occasions. The Bali calendar of events for 2025 …
In November 2024, PARQ Ubud, a residential and lifestyle complex located just outside of central Ubud in Bali, was closed down by authorities on the grounds that the business was operating without the correct licenses and on suspicion of being constructed against building and environmental regulations. The business was given a period of grace to …
Spiritual leaders in Bali have been speaking to the media about the surge in demand from tourists for traditional Balinese melukat ceremonies. These deeply spiritual rituals are a form of water purification ceremony and date back for centuries. Yet, as interest in these practices grows, some fear that many tourists are simply taking part in …
Kuta Beach in Bali welcomes a huge amount of repair work to its beach walk and pavement areas after coastal erosion has destroyed long stretches of the public walkways. The local government had been waiting for high tides to recede before commencing work, and teams have started the repair work this week. The repair work …
It is nearly a year since Bali launched its Tourism Tax Levy policy, and new data shows that even fewer tourists are making the contribution than first thought. Figures from 2024 suggested that only 40% of tourists made their IDR 150,000 contribution, but now it seems as few as 35% of tourists are paying their …
The Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation is closely monitoring Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in the East Flores Islands after it erupted four times on Monday, 20th January. The volcano also erupted several times in November 2024, causing travel havoc in East Nusa Tenggara Province and even in Bali too. The Indonesian Center for …