Bali has taken another step towards the introduction of a US$10 levy on foreign tourists that will be earmarked for environment and cultural preservation.
The Bali administration recently drafted a bylaw on the levy, which could raise as much as US$60 million dollars a year. It is hoped that the ban will slash the amount of plastic polluting Bali's marine environment.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster said he is optimistic that the tax would not discourage tourists from visiting the island.
"Tourists will understand (the regulation). They will be happy to pay it as it will be used to strengthen our environment and culture," he told the Jakarta Post.
Bali is not the only tourist destination to have imposed a tax on travellers. Japan this month began collecting a departure tax of 1,000 yen (US$9.1) from visitors to fund its tourism infrastructure.
Bali's levy will be imposed only on foreign tourists, not domestic tourists, but the method of its collection is still up for discussion.
Previously, when Indonesia levied an arrivals tax, there were long queues at immigration while visitors waited to pay the fee. This time Bali might seek the cooperation of airlines in collecting the environmental tax.
Tourism leaders in Bali have expressed support for the levy.