Each Balinese foreign visitor will have to pay 150,000 Indonesian rupiah or $10.
From Wednesday, visitors to an Indonesian island will have to pay a "tourist tax" before they can go on an active holiday. Local authorities believe that in this way they can teach foreign tourists to respect the local culture.
Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiagi Uno advises to treat the innovation as "an investment in the timely disposal of waste on the island and the preservation of cleanliness and sustainability of Balinese culture". In total, Indonesia expects to receive more than $47 million in revenue from the initiative.
The tourism levy must be paid as overseas visitors from other Indonesian provinces. All travellers are obliged to pay, regardless of their age. So far, the Indonesian authorities call two ways to pay the fee: online on the Love Bali website or through the application of the same name, as well as or at the point of arrival. And it is noted that it is better to do it the first of these ways.
The order of payment "on the spot" is not specified. After making the payment, tourists will receive an e-mail with a QR code, which they will have to show upon arrival in Bali.
Tourists who do not accept the new conditions will face a number of restrictions. There is no question of a ban on entry. "Refusers" will be verbally reprimanded, a written copy of which will be sent to the home country of the guest and to the immigration service, as well as data entry into a special database. The services of tourist attractions will also fall under the sanctions. The Indonesian authorities have not yet specified how the enforcement of the latter ban will be monitored.