Australians will now have to pay extra to visit Bali thanks to a new tourist tax imposed by the government.
From next year, the popular Indonesian island destination will now charge IDR 150,000 ($A15) for every tourist who visits, the Bangkok Post reports.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Bali travellers set to be slugged with ‘tourist tax’.
Watch the latest news and stream for free on 7plus >>
The announcement was made by governor Wayan Koster on Wednesday, who told local politicians the fee will have to be paid electronically.
He also said foreigners travelling into Bali from other parts of Indonesia will also have to pay the levy.
Domestic Indonesian tourists will be exempt.
Koster said he did not believe the fee would deter tourists from visiting, and the money would be used to improve the island.
“It’s not a problem,” he said.
“We will use it (the money) for the environment, culture and we will build better quality infrastructure so travelling to Bali will be more comfortable and safe.”
Earlier this year it was reported that the government was considering a $A150 tourist tax following a spate of incidents involving Australians acting badly in Indonesia.
Co-ordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who had been vocal about the levy, said in April that tourists should “never underestimate Indonesia”.
“If the tourists of other countries want to enjoy the beauty of the natural panorama of Indonesia, then they must first understand and respect the cultural values, traditions, and regulations established in the country,” he said in a statement, translated to English, posted online.
According to the latest data from the Bali Central Bureau of Statistics, more than 400,000 people visited the Island in May, an increase of almost 7 per cent compared with the previous month.
Almost 25 per cent of those who visited in May were from Australia.
If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your .
To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide.