Tourist Levy Voucher Required for Departing Bali

Bali, Indonesia – April 8, 2025 – In a significant shift aimed at improving compliance with the Foreign Tourist Levy, authorities in Bali have announced that proof of payment, in the form of a Tourist Levy Voucher, will now be mandatory for travelers wishing to obtain their boarding passes when departing from the island. This new policy highlights the provincial government’s ongoing efforts to tighten the enforcement of the existing levy, known locally as Pungutan Wisatawan Asing (PWA).

New Policy Announcement

The announcement was made by Tjok Bagus Pemayun, the Head of the Bali Tourism Office, during a press conference dedicated to discussing the rollout of this policy. The initiative underscores Bali’s dedication to increasing efficiency in collecting the levy, which contributes to the island’s tourism infrastructure and services.

“We hope to finalize a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Society of IATA Traffic Airliners (SITA) soon,” Pemayun indicated during the conference held on March 11. SITA, a prominent global organization representing 36 major airlines, will play a crucial role in implementing this new requirement, serving to inform international travelers of their obligation to pay the Foreign Tourist Levy before or upon arrival.

Understanding the Tourist Levy Process

According to Pemayun, tourists have some flexibility regarding when they can pay the levy. “Ideally, travelers should pay the levy before arriving in Bali. But if they prefer to pay after arrival, that’s also fine. Nevertheless, if they try to leave Bali without having paid, they won’t be able to get their boarding pass. They must settle the payment first,” he explained.

This systematic approach is expected to significantly enhance compliance rates among travelers. With projections suggesting that levy collection efficiency could reach up to 95%, the partnership with SITA aims to streamline the process for passengers using airlines under the SITA umbrella.

Financial Implications

The Bali government is optimistic about the increased revenue that this new regulation could generate. “With this collaboration, we believe we can surpass our revenue targets. Last year, our target was Rp250 billion, but we ended up collecting over Rp318 billion,” Pemayun concluded, indicating strong potential for revenue growth as a result of enhanced monitoring and enforcement.

Conclusion

As Bali prepares to implement this new policy regarding the Tourist Levy, travelers should be aware of the requirement to present a Tourist Levy Voucher for boarding pass issuance. This initiative seeks not only to bolster the local economy but also to ensure that the tourism industry can continue to thrive and maintain the quality of services that visitors expect while enjoying the cultural and natural beauty of Bali.