Bali to introduce entry tax for tourists

Australia’s favourite Indonesian island is set to cop a US$10 (about AU$14) entry fee for foreign tourists.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster told the Jakarta Post the new tax would be used to fund programs on preserving the environment and Balinese culture.

The provincial government is in the process of deciding whether the levy should be included in the airline ticket price or paid at special counters at the airport.

“This will give us better fiscal space to support the development of Bali,” Koster said.

“Tourists will understand (the regulation). They will be happy to pay it as it will be used to strengthen our environment and culture.”

It’s estimated that more than 6 million tourists visited Bali in 2018, as the island battles against a devastating plastic waste problem.

The Jakarta Post reported 3,800 tonnes of waste are produced by Bali every day, with only 60 per cent ending up in landfills.

A single-use plastic ban was imposed last year, targetting shopping bags, styrofoam and straws in an attempt by the Balinese administration to slash plastic pollution by 70 per cent.

Bali is not the only tourism hot spot to impose a tourist tax, with Japan recently imposing a departure tax of 1,000 yen (about AU$13) to help cover the cost of an increase in visitors during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.