The State News Agency ANTARA quotes Bali Governor Wayan Koster announcing that the collection of the foreign tourist levy (PWA) during the period of January to August 2026 reached Rp235 billion, accounting for approximately 43 percent of foreign tourists arriving on the Island.
”While last year the collection rate was 35.4 percent, by August of this year, it has reached 43 percent—meaning an increase of roughly 7–8 percent. This is an ongoing effort on our part,” Koster said during the plenary session marking the 68th anniversary of Bali Province in Denpasar on Friday, 14 August 2026.
Koster views this achievement as a gift for the 68th anniversary of Bali Province, which fell on August 14.
He explained that in 2025, the total realization of the foreign tourist levy (PWA) for the entire year reached Rp369 billion, or 35.4 percent of foreign tourists visiting Bali.
According to Koster, collecting the levy from over 40 percent of tourists is no easy task. The increase seen in 2026 is the result of collaborative efforts between the Bali Provincial Government, Immigration authorities, and airlines operating international routes.
”It has proven to be a very challenging process; many have urged us to crack down on those who haven’t paid, but I’ve said we must take it slow. We must avoid taking steps that could prove counterproductive, as this is a local regulation rather than a national one. The driving forces differ, so we must calculate our moves very carefully and with great caution,” he stated.
Despite the increased collection coverage, Koster does not intend to stop there; he has taken steps to convene representatives from international airlines to seek greater cooperation in the future.
All parties agreed that, starting in late August 2026, every international flight bound for Bali will display and announce the foreign tourist levy—set at Rp150,000—as a mandatory requirement for foreign visitors.
”It will be displayed on every international flight and announced on board before departure,” he said. In addition to the Foreign Tourist Levy (PWA) boosting regional revenue, foreign tourist visits themselves contribute significantly to Indonesia’s economy and tourism-related foreign exchange earnings.
Koster noted that in 2025, the number of foreign tourists arriving in Bali by air is projected to reach 7,050,000—representing 45.8 percent of the 15.39 million foreign tourists visiting the country nationwide.
Beyond the sheer volume of visitors, records from the Bali Provincial Government indicate that tourism revenue generated from foreign tourist spending on the “Island of the Gods” reached Rp. 176 trillion; this accounts for 55 percent of the national total foreign exchange generated of Rp. 319.9 trillion.
Consequently, on the 68th anniversary of Bali Province on August 14, Governor Koster urged the central government to support not only the PWA initiative but also the development of Bali’s tourism infrastructure.
”I hope the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) can travel to Jakarta to lobby effectively—engaging both the executive and legislative branches—so we can secure increased budget support. There has already been talk of allocating IDR 5 trillion annually for Bali; considering that 10 percent of our tourism revenue amounts to IDR 17 trillion, we aren’t asking for a huge sum—just IDR 5 trillion would be enough to resolve Bali’s infrastructure needs,” he said.
Meanwhile, there are frequent, vocal requests from the public and tourism stakeholders for a comprehensive accounting of how PWA revenue is used.
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