‘Too low’: Bali looks to hike entry fee

Aussies planning a trip to the hotspot may soon have to cough up almost $100 to enter the island with arguments the current fee is “too low”.

Aussies and tourists planning a trip to Bali may soon have to fork out almost $100 to enter the hotspot.

Balinese politician Gede Komang Kresna Budi revealed to media last week he believes the current sum of IDR 150,000 – about $15 – is “too low” and wants to see it increased to around IDR 800,000 – about 75 Aussie dollars.

“This levy on foreign tourists is not yet effective; that’s why we want to increase the role of other sectors such as Immigration and the Police,” he told reporters, according to The Bali Sun.

“I think IDR 150,000 is too low, so Bali seems like a cheap tourist destination. That’s why we plan to increase it by fifty (US) dollars. Why should Bali be sold cheaply?”

The $15 fee came into effect in February this year and it’s expected to bring in more than $18 million this year from Aussies alone.

Indonesian Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno told news.com.au earlier this year the new tourist levy would be used to help protect Bali’s culture and customs, and environment to create sustainable tourism.

“In the future, the collection of [tourist levy] fees in Bali will protect nature and keep it clean and sustainable,” he said.

However, top tourism officials have since acknowledged it is not running as it should with the majority of tourists entering the holiday hotspot (around 60 per cent) not paying the fee.

Instead, around 5000 people per day are paying levy, a lot less than what officials had hoped, according to The Bali Sun.

As of March 26, tourism police units have been conducting spot checks to ensure travellers have paid the fee.

Aussies and tourists alike planing to visit Bali may soon have to pay around $75 to enter the hotspot. Picture: iStock

“We will target tourist attractions in Bali including Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Ulun Danu Beratan and also Tampaksiring,” Head of the Bali Tourism Department, Tjok Bagus Pemayun said in March.

This week, Mr Pemayun explained an increase in the tax could be on the cards, though he did not suggest by how much.

He also said his team will conduct an in-depth viability study before any changes to the fees are introduced.

“We have to do another study, not just all at once so that we can see where the figure comes from” he told reporters.

“There must be a calculation of whether the figure is reasonable so that it doesn’t burden tourists. This increase is not a matter of whether it is right or not related to efforts to improve the quality of tourists.”

Currently, tourists have to pay a $15 levy fee. Picture: iStock

He also wants to see the process of paying the fee more streamlined with tourists having to visit two sites and process two separate paymentsor their tourism e-visa on arrival and the Bali Tourism Tax Levy before they fly to Bali.

While there are auto scanner gate devices installed at airports to ensure tourists have paid the fee, at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport autogates are strictly for immigration and border control purposes, and there are both insufficient scanners and staff available to scan all tourist’s QR-code vouchers on arrival, the Bali Sun reported.

There’s arguments the current fee is ‘too low’ – and around 60 per cent of tourists haven’t been paying the fee, according to local reports. Picture: iStock

It’s part of the reason for the heightened spot checks. Officers from the Tourism Satpol Police Units, who have been conducting patrols since their deployment in February, will carry out the inspections.

It has been supported by leading tourism stakeholders on the island, including the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association.

Tourism police have started conducing spot checks to make sure tourists have paid the fee. Picture: Instagram/bali.info.official

Meanwhile, those who don’t pay the fee could be slapped with a fine if the Acting Govenor of Bali gets his way.

Sang Made Mahendra Jaya said he hopes there will be sanctions for tourists who do not pay fees.

“For example, fines or penalties. Minor criminal acts,” he added.

Although he did not state what those criminal actions would look like.

The Acting Govenor of Bali said he hopes there will be sanctions for tourists who do not pay fees. Picture: iStock

How to pay the tourist levy

You can pay the $15 fee via the lovebali.baliprov.go.id website or Love Bali app.

You will need to enter your details, including your passport number and arrival date

Then you can choose your payment method and once successful, you will have a ‘Levy Voucher’ sent to your email.

It is important to make sure the voucher is valid and active as your will need to present it at scanning checkpoints when entering Bali.

There will also be a counter to pay the fee by debit or credit card at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport or Benoa Harbour, but this is not the method encouraged.