Tourist fees on Bali could possibly increase by five times!

Relaxing on Bali might get more expensive soon (Source)

Bali, the Southeast Asian paradise that every backpacker must visit at least once, gained even more popularity among Europeans after the movie "Eat Pray Love." In reality, Bali is like the Mallorca for Australians—specifically, the rowdier, party-centric areas. Now, tourists are expected to pay a premium for this experience.

Emptying your pockets at Denpasar Airport (DPS) is nothing new. Bali has long imposed an entry fee of 500,000 IDR (approximately $30), labeled as a "Visa on Arrival." However, in an effort to attract wealthier tourists and curb the influx of budget travelers, Indonesia introduced an additional tourist tax this year. As we reported in 2023, since spring 2024, an extra $10 fee has been collected upon entry, supposedly to protect the environment and Balinese culture.

However, it seems this money isn’t reaching its intended destinations. Politicians are now proposing to involve the agencies and personnel in the collection process by giving them a share of the revenue. Specifically, 2.5% of the $10 fee would go to immigration, police, and airport management. Given that 2.5% of $10 isn’t much, there’s also a proposal to quintuple the tourist tax.

In political discussions, this is framed differently. According to Detik Bali, the prevailing opinion is that the low $10 fee encourages tourists to view Bali as a cheap destination. Therefore, there's now a plan to charge an additional $50 tourist tax (about 47 euros) upon entry by air or sea, on top of the $30 Visa on Arrival fee.

Will this make a difference?

Let’s debunk a myth: Bali is not a paradisiacal dream destination. There’s no compelling reason to endure a 15-hour flight from Europe just to get there. Yes, you can have a nice vacation in Bali, but it’s neither unique nor a dream destination.

Will the increase in tourist fees keep more tourists away from Bali? (Source)

Bali chose to base its economic success on tourism. Over time, dissatisfaction with the types of tourists it attracts has grown. An extra $10 at entry hasn't deterred Australian party groups or German students extending their backpacking trips from Bangkok to Bali.

Will a $50 fee make a difference? I honestly don’t know. But I’m certain these tourist dollars won’t be used to protect the environment or Balinese culture.