As of: February 15, 2024, 9:30 a.m
By: Nico Reiter
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Travelers will now have to pay a tourism tax upon arrival in Bali.
The proceeds are intended to help solve the island's garbage and traffic problems.
Denpasar – If you are planning a vacation to Bali, you have to plan a little more budget.
A tourist tax is immediately added to the flight, hotel, meals and visa costs.
This is paid by everyone entering the country and is intended to be invested in projects in the province.
The entertainment tax also causes price increases in Bali.
To be paid for each person entering the country: 9 euros tourism tax
At Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, travelers now have to pay 150,000 rupees, which is approximately 9 euros.
The island wants to invest the revenue from the tax in tourism and services.
For individuals, the buzzer doesn't seem very high.
But if families travel with many children who also have to pay the tax, the contribution can put a strain on the budget.
A visit already costs the equivalent of 30 euros for a 30-day visa.
The tax must also be paid if you are transiting from a neighboring island outside the province.
Bali struggles with waste problems and transport network
The majority of the money, around 70 percent, will now be invested in tackling the prevailing waste problem.
The monsoon-influenced current pushes mountains of trash onto the shores of Kuta Beach.
The bottles, cups and packaging are transported away by trucks.
But other places on the island are also struggling with the masses of garbage.
“Even lesser-known attractions such as waterfalls in the jungle are often completely littered with rubbish,” said a taxi driver on the island.
The beach in Kuta is struggling with a garbage problem © Feldian Michael/Imago
Another problem on the island is traffic.
Bali has relatively few public transport options.
Mainly cars and scooters are used.
This often creates hours-long traffic jams in the center.
The solution could be a planned rail system that could connect the airport with Kuta and other holiday resorts.
Tourism tax brings 60 million budget for Bali
On average, up to 18,000 travelers arrive in Bali every day.
With the tourist tax, that would be an additional 60 million euros for the province.
The provincial governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya has not yet given any specific information about which projects this sum will flow into.
“It is important for foreign tourists to know that their money is being used for cultural preservation and waste disposal,” said the governor.
The tax was introduced in February during the off-season when there were fewer tourists.
This way it can be tested whether the payments lead to more waiting times when entering the airport.
If you want to be on the safe side, you can pay the tax in advance on the Love Bali website or in the app of the same name.
Good preparation also includes knowing the rules of etiquette on the island.
(dpa/no)