DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – Bali closed 2025 with a strong performance from its Foreign Tourist Levy (PWA), collecting Rp369 billion, exceeding the initial target of Rp325 billion, according to the Bali Provincial Tourism Office. The figure averages nearly Rp1 billion per day over the year and reflects the continued recovery of Bali’s tourism sector following the pandemic.
Despite surpassing its revenue target, authorities acknowledged that overall compliance remains limited. Only around 34 percent of foreign visitors to Bali paid the levy in 2025, a modest increase from 32 percent in 2024. This remains relatively low compared with the total number of foreign tourist arrivals, which reached 7,050,314 visits throughout the year.
Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office I Wayan Sumarajaya said levy revenue in 2025 also rose from Rp318 billion in 2024, marking a notable year-on-year increase. However, he stressed that further improvement is needed given the scale of international arrivals.
“Considering this policy has only been implemented for two years, the progress is visible. Going forward, we will strengthen outreach through tourism businesses and benefit partners,” Sumarajaya said on Friday, January 2, 2026, in Denpasar.
The Foreign Tourist Levy has been in effect since February 14, 2024, charging Rp150,000 per foreign visitor. The policy is regulated under Regional Regulation No. 2 of 2025 and is unique to Bali. Revenue from the levy is earmarked specifically for cultural preservation and environmental protection.
“The legal basis for the levy has been reinforced through Regional Regulation No. 2 of 2025 and a governor’s regulation. The funds are intended to support Balinese culture and protect the island’s natural environment,” Sumarajaya said.
To increase participation, the Bali Tourism Office has expanded public outreach through print and electronic media, social media campaigns, and on-site banners at Ngurah Rai International Airport. The levy payment system has also been developed through more than 150 registered digital endpoints, including tourism businesses that receive a 3 percent service incentive for facilitating payments.
Authorities are also coordinating levy collection at Benoa Port, as well as entry points such as Padangbai and Gilimanuk, and through partner private banks. For 2026, the provincial government has set a Rp500 billion levy target in the Bali Regional Budget Draft, reflecting plans to strengthen inter-agency coordination, refine technical implementation, and expand cooperation with tourism stakeholders.
Looking ahead, Sumarajaya said Bali is also working to integrate the Love Bali levy system nationally, enabling payments via credit cards, virtual accounts, and QRIS, with digital receipts sent directly to tourists’ email addresses. Integration is expected to streamline services, including immigration-related processes for visitors entering Bali through different routes.
Meanwhile, the Bali Provincial Government reaffirmed that its tourism policy direction for 2026 will prioritize quality tourism rather than visitor volume alone. Governor Wayan Koster said the government is drafting a new regional regulation that will define indicators of “quality tourists,” including length of stay, travel purpose, activities, and financial capacity.
“Our policy direction is clear. We are moving toward quality tourism, not merely chasing numbers,” Koster said during a meeting with Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana in Gianyar on January 1, 2026.
Despite ongoing challenges such as congestion, waste management, and environmental pressure, the provincial government said improvements will be implemented gradually through coordinated central and regional policies. Officials emphasized that sustained cooperation and consistency are essential to ensure Bali’s tourism growth remains balanced, resilient, and sustainable.