Start date confirmed for Bali’s tourist tax

There’s been plenty of talk of a tourist tax for Bali visitors but officials have finally put their money (or your money) where their mouth is and confirmed when it will start.

Visitors to the island paradise will be charged IDR 150,000 ($A15) from 14 February, the Bali tourism department confirmed. Those heading into Bali from other parts of Indonesia will also be forced to pay the levy, however domestic Indonesian travellers are exempt.

The tax will be paid electronically and take 23 seconds to process, the head of Bali Tourism Department Tjok Bagus Pemayun said. He added that 20 officers will be on duty to process the payments before travellers move to the immigration line. This tax is in addition to the existing IDR 500,000 ($A50) visa on arrival fee, which is paid separately.

The Balinese Government is yet to release an official report on exactly where the funds will go but acting governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya said the revenue will be used for waste disposal and preserving local culture, according to Bali Discovery. Mahendra said the waste generated by tourists needed to be managed to ensure the destination’s sustainability.

A long term plan for how the funds are spent is said to be released by the next governor and their government after the 2024 election, 7News reported.

Bali’s tourist tax comes as the island cracks down on unruly tourist behaviour, which the Balinese government has responded to with the Bali Becik Task Force.

The taskforce, which was established at the request of director general of immigration Silmy Karim, aims to reach a target of 100 immigration control operations per month and could lead to fines and deportations of tourists.

“We hope that with the formation of the Bali Becik Task Force, the level of violations of laws and norms by foreigners in Bali will decrease,” Karim said.

A litany of instances of drunken behaviour, lewd public sex acts and some deportation has spurred the South East Asian island to release a list of do’s and dont’s.

Find the full list of rules here.