Menparekraf Sandiaga: Tariff Of 10 US Dollars For Foreign Tourists In Bali For Natural Conservation

Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno/ANTARA/Naufal Fikri Yusuf

Menparekraf Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno said the fee levy was IDR 150,000 for foreign tourists (tourists) who entered Bali aimed at natural conservation.

"Please be patient, later the Balinese provincial government will continue to coordinate with our Task Force because this is for conservation. The initial idea was to bring environmental sustainability, traditional sustainability and local wisdom to continue working," Sandiaga said after opening the International Tourism Investment Forum (ITIF) for 2023 in Badung, Bali, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 26.

Sandiaga said the amount of levies of Rp. 150,000 or 10 US dollars set by the Bali Provincial Government is expected not to be additional new costs but to contribute to environmental sustainability for the years ahead so that the tourism ecosystem in Bali is maintained.

Sandiaga believes that tourists support Bali to maintain its culture and environment. All of this depends on the perspective on the policies in the tourism sector.

To arrive at that goal, according to Sandiaga, a large amount of money is needed and collaborative work from all parties. The government, said Sandi, will continue to oversee the cost levy agenda, including the current process.

"All tourists want Bali to be maintained, all tourists also want beautiful Bali like this, the waste is well managed, the coral reefs are well maintained, the mangroves are in good condition. Now, this requires this cost and costs that we will use through initiatives, which are now the process is still initial. will be discussed and socialized and will be at the Regional Regulation stage and so on," he said.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy stated that Indonesia should be proud of almost 50 percent more tourists to Bali whose growth continues to strengthen and be accepted by the world and hopes that it will widen to other regions.

According to him, it is appropriate for Bali to offer contributions to foreign tourists for the sustainability and conservation of nature and culture must be very careful.

"So we are very careful in setting additional costs. So Bali has gone through a process in a position that can offer a contribution to conservation," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor of Bali Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati (Cok Ace) said the Rp150,000 levy for foreigners was for the sustainability of Bali tourism in the future.

"I think it is clear what the Minister said, speaking whether it is expensive or cheap depending on the narrative we are building. This is an allocation for the environment and culture that tourists are looking for themselves. This is why we need big costs," said Cok Ace.

He said that the narrative for conservation is impossible for foreign tourists to refuse and has no effect on foreign tourist visits to Bali.