In an effort to protect the traditions of the “Island of Gods,” Indonesia’s Bali has started charging new visitors an IDR 150,000 (USD 10) tax starting today.
“The purpose of this tax is to safeguard Bali’s environment and cultural heritage,” stated acting Governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya during a press conference on Monday.
Foreign visitors arriving in Bali from overseas or from other regions of Indonesia will be required to pay the fee electronically through the “Love Bali” online portal, according to a press release.
The levy will not apply to domestic Indonesian tourists.
Nearly 4.8 million tourists visited Bali between January and November last year, according to official figures, as the island continued to rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic after imposing a zero-tolerance policy on rule-breakers.
