Sandiaga: Tourist Charges To Bali For Quality Tourism

ILLUSTRATION/Pantai Melasti Badung Bali/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said the implementation of taxes on foreign tourists (tourists) to Bali amounting to 10 US dollars or Rp. 150 thousand aims to realize quality and sustainable tourism.

"We are very serious about quality-sustainable tourism," said Sandiaga Uno at the weekly press conference of the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy in Jakarta, reported by ANTARA, Monday, February 5.

He explained that the tax would be used to better deal with waste problems in Bali, preserve Balinese culture, and refine Balinese customs.

Later, he said, foreign tourists will only be charged this fee once when they come to Indonesia and visit Bali through several modes of transportation. If on one visit the tourist arrives in Bali, then travels to other provinces, and returns to Bali, then the foreign tourists are only charged one fee.

"They (tourists) entered Bali, they came out, then returned to Bali, no more (paid)," said Sandiaga.

He also said the policy of paying taxes does not apply to foreign citizens holding KITAS/KITAP. Quoted from the Letter of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Number 100.2.1.6/1049/OTDA, other foreign foreigners who are excluded are diplomatic visa holders and service visas, crew members, family union visa holders, student visa holders, visa gold holders, and certain non-tourist visa holders.

Regarding foreign tourists who transit in Bali to other provinces, Sandiaga assessed that a special approach was needed because the foreign tourists did not travel in Bali.

"So, this may need a special deepening later, because this is a new policy that will be implemented on February 14. There will definitely be findings and adjustments," said Sandiaga.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued letter Number 100.2.1.6/1049/OTDA regarding the facilitation of the Draft Regulation of the Governor of Bali concerning Procedures for Payment of Charges for Foreign Tourists on Tuesday (30/1).

In the letter, the Ministry of Home Affairs proposed a number of improvement steps, such as completing the technical procedures for paying tourist taxes, before it was enacted.

Previously, Sandiaga explained that so far foreign tourists who have been on vacation to Indonesia have not really questioned the cost issue because they tend to come from the middle to upper tourist segment.

"So far, the characters of tourists who come do not really question the cost of getting visas because they are indeed from the target and segments that tend to be middle and upper," he said.