Bali tourism leaders want transparency on millions made through new tourist levy

It is only early days for Bali’s new tourist levy, but tourist leaders are already expressing concerns.

Bali’s new tourist levy has only just begun, but there are already calls for transparency around how the money will be spent.

Indonesia is expecting to bring in more than $18 million from Australian tourists alone through the new $15 per person fee this year.

Aussies are the popular holiday island’s top foreign visitors.

The levy was introduced on Wednesday and is promoted as a way to protect Bali’s culture and environment, and create sustainable tourism.

Tourism leaders, who support the levy, have said it is important tourists don’t “feel cheated”.

Foreign visitors now need to pay a $15 tourist fee to enter Bali, separate from visa fees. Picture: Sonny Tumbelaka / AFP

Putu Winastra, chairman of the Bali branch of the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies, said there needed to be an independent auditing process and the money collected spent in a way that was visible to the public, according to The Bali Sun.

“So that foreign tourists really believe it. Of course, the funds will not be small,” he said.

The outlet reported Sang Putu Eka Pertama, on behalf of the Association of Hospitality Leaders Indonesia, said all receipts from expenditure should be reported regularly.

“The implementation must be transparent so that tourists can feel the benefits and be proud of the contribution that has been made,” he said.

The funds are said to be spent on protecting Bali’s culture and environment. Picture: istock

Indonesian Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno told news.com.au the new tourist levy funds would be spent on keeping Bali clean and sustainable.

“But it also plays a vital role in protecting and promoting Balinese culture, which includes customs, traditions, cultural arts, and local wisdom to maintain Bali’s spiritual aura,” he said.

He said the funds were also “expected to improve Bali’s cultural tourism information services and build quality public transportation infrastructure and facilities”.

The government’s Love Bali website explains that the plan is to develop integrated land, sea and air infrastructure.

Indonesia’s Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Made Ayu Marthini told news.com.au when she visited Melbourne last October, primarily the funds will be used to “improve waste management, preserve cultural sites and the local environment.”

Waste management has long been a problem at the popular holiday destination with recent photos of Kuta beach showing it overrun with mounds of plastic bottles, food containers and abandoned shopping bags.