Wayan Puspa Negara, head of the Bali Marginal Tourism Actors Alliance and a lawmaker in Bali’s Badung regency, has claimed that officials are weighing up whether to introduce a hefty tourist tax for visitors to the Indonesian island
An island paradise beloved by travellers globally is considering introducing one of the biggest tourist taxes in the world.
Faced with the challenges of overtourism, officials in Bali have proposed introducing a daily tourist tax, similar to Bhutan’s $100 (€£79) Sustainable Development Fee, which is charged to most international visitors.
Wayan Puspa Negara, head of the Bali Marginal Tourism Actors Alliance and a lawmaker in Bali’s Badung regency, told the South China Morning Post this week that he envisions Bali “selecting” tourists, much like Bhutan does. The Himalayan nation restricts its annual tourist intake to just 400,000 people and has previously charged up to $250 (£198) per day for visitors, Euronews reports. Tourists are also obliged to hire a guide, driver and transport from any official tour agency.
“They select tourists based on spending potential,” Negara explained. “It’s similar to how Indonesians are treated when they visit the US, Europe, or Britain.”
Known as the “Island of the Gods,” Bali is one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Yet, the influx of visitors has also led to numerous problems, including disruptive behavior from tourists drawn to the island’s idyllic beaches, vibrant food scene, rich cultural heritage, affordable accommodation, and the promise of luxury indulgence.
While tourism has been a major economic driver—accounting for over 60% of Bali’s economy in 2019—many locals have developed mixed feelings about it. The island has struggled with overwhelming traffic, uncontrolled development, and a growing number of poorly behaved tourists.
Last year Travel blogger Nick Kembel, who works with Taiwan Obsessed, warned that the paradise island in Indonesia is “completely overrun” and is a shadow of its former self due to the high numbers of people who head there each year.
“I think Bali is one of the most over-touristed destinations in the world right now. It’s attracting Instagram crowds seeking the perfect beach photo against a backdrop of lush rice paddies and Hindu temples,” he told The Express. “But this surge in tourism has led to strained infrastructure, environmental issues and the loss of cultural traditions. Certain areas are completely overrun, lacking the tranquillity and charm that initially put Bali on the map.”
In 2023, more than five million foreign tourists visited Bali, which has a population of just four million. The island has had several tourist scandals recently, including a visitor who was criticised for posing naked in front of a sacred tree in 2023.
American travel publication Fodors has placed Bali on its ‘perennial no list’, urging people not to travel there and further add to the island’s woes. “This post-pandemic travel rebound has only intensified the strain on the island. While this influx has boosted the economy, it has also placed overwhelming pressure on Bali’s infrastructure. Once-pristine beaches like Kuta and Seminyak are now buried under piles of trash, with local waste management systems struggling to keep up,” Fodors writes.
“The Bali Partnership, a coalition of academics and NGOs working to study and solve waste management issues, estimates the island generates 1.6 million tons of waste annually, with plastic waste comprising nearly 303,000 tons. Despite these substantial volumes, only 48% of all waste is responsibly managed, and a mere 7% of plastic waste is recycled. This shortfall results in 33,000 tons of plastic entering Bali’s rivers, beaches, and marine environments each year, posing a severe threat to the island’s ecosystems.”
