Key Points
- Indonesia's tourism minister is proposing visa requirement changes which will save Australians money.
- Twenty nations will be newly exempt from the visa requirements under the proposed changes.
- All tourists will still be forced to pay Bali's new tourism tax, effective 14 February.
Bali lovers could save on their holidays as the Indonesian government considers a visa exemption for Australian travellers.
The Visa on Arrival (VOA) was introduced for 159 countries shortly after Indonesia reopened its borders post-pandemic, charging IDR 500,000 (about $50) for up to 30 days.
However, the Bali Sun reports that the visa may be axed as early as January next year for the country's most frequent visitors.
Who will be exempt from Bali's visa requirement?
Indonesia's Minister of Tourism and Creative Economies Sandiaga Uno revealed that he will reintroduce visa-free travel for visitors from 20 countries.
Top of the list was Australia, alongside China, India, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The latest Bali Central Bureau of Statistics data shows that 1,093,234 Australians travelled to Bali between January to October 2023, making up 25 per cent of visitors.
The current VOA requirement costs a family of four $200 in visa fees.
Uno told the media last week that the proposed changes will be finalised in January 2024.
"In the next month it will be finalised and after that, we will receive direction from the president and the policy will be followed up with immigration," Uno said.
He also confirmed that visitors from ASEAN countries will keep their visa fee exemptions.
What about the Bali tourist tax?
In October, authorities revealed that all tourists will be charged a new Bali tourism tax from 14 February 2024.
Travellers will pay IDR 150,000 (about $15) upon arrival at the airport.
The money will go towards waste management and "environmental conservation, nature preservation, cultural enhancement, and overall quality improvement," according to the Bali.com website.
