Experts Say Bali Tourism Tax Process Must Be Transparent 

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With just a matter of days to go before the Bali Tourism Tax is introduced on the 14th of February, plenty of conversations are happening on the island about the new policy.

Leaders from the Bali Provincial Government are being called on to ensure all funds are managed transparently. 

Speaking to reporters after the Great Sharing Session in Seminyak, the Chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) Bali Province, Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana, called for everything to be managed transparently and for the government to be held accountable. 

The Great Sharing Session saw tourism experts gather to discuss pressing issues in Bali’s tourism and hospitality space.

The discussion was titled ‘Public Policy for Bali Tourism Development in the Middle of a Global Market.’

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Speaking to the suggestion that up to 70% of the tourism levy could be spent on tackling Bali’s waste management issues, Adynana said, “It is regulated in law; these levies are for cultural and environmental preservation.”

There is a feeling that the funds should be spent on cultural and environmental preservation in a more direct way and that tourism tax funds should not be imminently and so wholly directed to resolving the open landfill situation. 

Adnyana added, “I also agree, for example, that the use of tourist levy money should focus first on overcoming traffic jams. [However] In addition to transparency and accountability, it is also necessary to form a team to manage levy funds.” 

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“We hope that the technicalities of this levy will be well coordinated with the relevant parties so as not to reduce tourists’ comfort when visiting.”

Adnyana wants to see the tourism sector play an active role in the new Bali tourism tax system so that the process can benefit tourists in the long and short term.

He explained to reporters that it is necessary to involve tourism associations from the start so they can participate in discussing priority programs and monitoring the use of the levy funds.

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The Head of the Tourism Promotion Team for the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, Ketut Yadnya Winarta, revealed that everything is set for the 14th of February and that tourists will be able to pay their fees easily.

He added that there are also systems in place to manage the funds degenerated by the tax levy from the start. 

Winarta said, “Incoming money must go into the APBD (Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget). From the APBD, it is then divided into programs prepared by the agencies.”

“A number of programs have been prepared by related agencies, such as those related to culture at the Culture Service, while those related to the environment will focus on waste management.”

The new Bali Tourism Levy is a sustainable tourism initiative devised by the Bali Provincial Government. The levy will see all international tourists pay IDR 150,000 per visit to the island.

Communication from Wonderful Indonesia, the Bali Provincial Government, and the Bali Tourism Office suggest that this means that if tourists visit Bali for 7-days, then take a trip to the Gili Islands, which are part of Lombok Province, and then return to Bali for a few days before flying out of Denpasar, they will have to pay the fee again. 

The Bali Tourism tax will be payable upon arrival at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International. However, leaders are encouraging tourists to pay the fee prior to arrival in Bali via the Love Bali app or on the Love Bali website.

Tourists will be issued with proof of payment that they can show on arrival at Bali Airport or seaports. 

There are certain visa categories that will be exempt from paying the Bali Tourism Tax. This includes KITAS and KITAP holders, family reunification visas, student visas, golden visas, and other non-tourist visas.

Exemption is not automatically granted on the basis of holding an exempt visa.

Visitors to Bali must apply for a tourism tax exemption before landing in Bali, which is also available on the Love Bali app and website and can be applied for up to 5 days before arrival.