BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR — Bali Governor Wayan Koster is intensifying efforts to optimize revenue from the Foreign Tourist Levy (PWA) amid the continued surge in international tourist arrivals to the island.

As part of the strategy, Koster plans to gather 34 Consuls General based in Bali on May 21, 2026. The diplomats are expected to help promote compliance with the mandatory tourist levy among travelers from their respective countries.

“In the near future, on May 21, I will invite all consuls general in Bali. There are 34 consuls general, and I believe all of them will support this contribution,” Koster said at the Bali Governor’s Office on Saturday (May 16, 2026).

In addition to involving foreign diplomats, the Bali Provincial Government has also started coordinating with several major online travel agents (OTAs) to expand public outreach and facilitate digital payment of the levy.

The platforms currently involved include Traveloka, Trip.com, Tiket.com, and Club Travel.

Koster added that the provincial government will soon hold meetings with other major global accommodation and travel platforms, including Airbnb, Agoda, Booking.com, and Expedia.

“We will soon hold meetings with Airbnb, Agoda, Booking.com, and Expedia. There are eight major online travel platforms with the largest user base, and all of them are supportive. Their transactions are fully digital,” he said.

The Bali administration is also preparing to collaborate with several international airlines to improve compliance among foreign tourists before they arrive on the island.

“All parties connected to tourism operations in Bali will be involved. This is part of our collective effort to preserve Bali — its nature, its people, and its culture,” Koster stressed.

According to Bali Provincial Government data, approximately seven million foreign tourists visited Bali throughout 2025. However, only around 2.4 million visitors, or about 34 percent, were recorded as having paid the foreign tourist levy.

The levy generated Rp369 billion (approximately US$22.7 million) in revenue in 2025, an increase from Rp318 billion collected the previous year.

Koster emphasized that the entire payment process is conducted digitally to minimize the risk of irregularities.

“The payment is fully online, the entire process is online and digital. There is no cash involved, no direct contact between people, so there is no opportunity for misconduct,” he concluded.