Aussie tourist hotspot Bali, one year ago, instituted a tourism tax which was applied to everyone visiting the country.
Now it’s been revealed how much has reportedly been made from it.
Data from The Bali Sun suggests only 35 per cent of Bali’s 6,333,360 total visitors paid the $15 levy, which puts their total raised from the tax at more than $31 million.
The levy, which took effect on Valentine’s Day in 2024, is said to protect the island’s culture, customs, and environment and promote sustainable tourism.
According to Statista, in 2024 alone, more than 1.5 million Australians visited Bali, making Australia the largest tourism market for the Indonesian island.
“In the future, the collection of (tourist levy) fees in Bali will protect nature and keep it clean and sustainable,” Indonesian Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said.
“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.”
The move to introduce a tourism tax comes after almost two years of efforts to crack down on mass tourism and unruly foreigners.