According to reporting from Antara News, the Bali government will exempt foreigners from seven categories from its IDR 150,000 tourist levy scheduled to begin on February 14.
“They must submit an application and meet the requirements in the Love Bali system,” (lovebali.baliprov.go.id) said Ida Ayu Indah Yustikarini, Head of Tourism at the Tourism Office of Bali Province, in Denpasar on Thursday (8/2/24.)
The seven categories are foreign tourists holding diplomatic and official visas, crew members on transportation vehicles, holders of temporary or permanent stay permit cards, holders of family unification visas, student visas, Golden Visas, and other visas, such as business visas, according to Antara News.
Based on the Bali Governor’s Regulation Number 36 of 2023 on Payment Procedures for Foreign Tourist Levy, the request for levy exemption application must be submitted at least one month before entering Bali.
In addition, the regulation stipulates that the local tourism authority will verify and make a decision on the application in five working days (maximum.)
The decision on whether the application is approved or rejected will be communicated to tourists through the Love Bali system at lovebali.baliprov.go.id.
“If it is approved, the Love Bali system will give notice and proof of exemption approval to the foreign tourists in the form of a QR code,” Yustikarini said.
For the initial stage, the levy will be applied at the international arrival terminals of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport and Benoa Port, Bali.
In addition to the two locations, payment of the levy can also be carried out through travel agents, hotels, and tourist attractions, say Antara News.
The levy is being imposed based on Law Number 15 of 2023 on Bali Province and its derivative regulation, namely Regional Regulation Number 6 of 2023 on Levy for Foreign Tourists for Bali’s Cultural and Environmental Protection, which is being applied to protect the customs, traditions, arts, culture, and local wisdom of the Balinese people.
Moreover, it aims to respect and preserve culture and the natural environment in the form of tourist attractions in Bali, improve the quality of services and organization of Balinese cultural tourism, and become a guideline in implementing and managing levies for foreign tourists, according to Antara News.
Source: Antara News
