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A packed beach in Seminyak, Bali. The Indonesian island will soon introduce a tourist tax to help tackle problems associated with mass tourism. But some say the move could drive visitors to other, cheaper Southeast Asian destinations. Photo: Bloomberg
LifestyleTravel & Leisure

Why Bali’s new tourist tax could deter travel to island, especially as Thailand is drawing visitors with lower alcohol taxes

  • On top of visa fees, from February 14 visitors to Bali will pay arrival tax of around US$10. If they visit nearby islands they have to pay again on their return
  • The tax will raise money to help ease traffic and waste problems, but it could drive visitors to Thailand, which is lowering alcohol tariffs to boost tourism
Asia travel
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Indonesia’s holiday island, Bali, is rolling out its new tourist tax as part of an effort to tackle its biggest problems – traffic and rubbish.

From February 14, visitors to Bali will have to pay the 150,000 Indonesian rupiah tax – about US$9.60. That’s in addition to the 500,000 rupiah charge for a 30-day visa.

The tourism tax applies to every visitor, including children. Those who make a side trip to neighbouring islands such as the popular Gili Islands, Lombok or Java have to pay again on their return to Bali. This does not apply to trips to Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Ceningan, as these three islands belong to the province of Bali.

Some observers have questioned whether the new procedure will lead to long queues at arrivals areas, but according to the head of the local tourism authority, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, the processing should not take more than 23 seconds per person.

A stall selling artisanal goods in Seminyak, Bali. Photo: EPA-EFE
Officials also hope most tourists will in future pay online in advance of travelling to Bali and have said credit card payments will be accepted.

While the costs for single travellers might be bearable, families with children may look for cheaper holiday destinations in Southeast Asia, some on social media have commented.

Worsening traffic problems and the lack of waste disposal are the biggest headaches for Bali, and authorities say they need more cash in their coffers to better counteract the negative effects of mass tourism.
Thailand, meanwhile, is lowering costs for visitors, Bangkok having decided to cut alcohol taxes and tariffs in an effort to lower the cost of a night out.

A 54 per cent tariff on wine imports will be “exempted indefinitely”, according to local media accounts of a Thai cabinet meeting, while excise duties on locally produced wine will be cut to 10 per cent or lower.

A bar in Pattaya, on Thailand’s eastern Gulf coast. Photo: Getty Images

The measure is designed not only to expand the budding domestic industry but also to add to supplies of less expensive alcohol.

The government had in recent years increased tariffs on wine to raise revenues. But in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and border closures, the focus has changed to reviving the tourism industry, which suffered a collapse during the 2020-2022 period.

The proposals come after officials last month moved to suspend duty-free shopping at airports to get travellers to spend more in shops and restaurants in towns and cities.

Cheap beer being advertised outside a bar in Phuket, in southern Thailand. Photo: Getty Images
In late November, officials announced Thailand’s pubs, bars and nightclubs would be granted extended opening hours as part of measures aimed at rekindling tourism with a thriving nightlife scene.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand said in December that the country was on track to record more than 27 million visitors in 2023, a huge improvement on 2022’s 11.5 million but far short of 2019’s 39 million, a number that put the Southeast Asian country in fifth place globally, after the United States and on level pegging with Italy.

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