As of the 1st of July 2023, it has been mandatory for tourists who wish to snorkel or dive in the Nusa Penida Marine Protection Area to first purchase an e-ticket to confirm their payment of the Nusa Penida Retribution Tax.
Despite the system being in place for four months now, leaders are concerned that tourists are not paying their way.
The fee to go snorkeling or diving in the Nusa Penida Marine Protection Area is IDR 100,000 per person. In just four months, the Bali Province Revenue Agency (Bapenda) has received IDR 1.8 billion in fees.
However, the Head of the Bali Province Revenue Agency, Made Santha, says that not everyone has been adhering to the new regulations.
Over the weekend, Santha told reporters that even though the new fee was advertised and socialized before it was implemented, it is taking time for all tourism businesses and the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service to be up to speed.
Santha explained,”Hopefully there won’t be any obstacles to its realization. This is how setting up targets is indeed the target of those who put them up and we are just taking notes.”
@shayandjordantravels Day 3 snorkelling adventures at Nusa Penida 💙🐳 #bali #explorebali #travel #snorkelling #greenturtle #nusapendiaisland #nusapendia #summer #holiday #swimming #balidaily #canggu #seminyak #nusadua #nusaduabali #balitravel #balitrip #boatday ♬ original sound – SHAY & JORDAN
Data shows that between 10,000 and 15,000 people visit Nusa Penida every day, though not everyone Offers a diving or snorkeling tour.
Nevertheless, Santha says that the full potential of the levy has not yet been realized. By which he means not all visitors are aware of the fee, nor are all tour providers making the payments.
Santha is suggesting that although IDR 1.8 billion has already been generated by tourist fees, more should be in the pot by now. According to Santha the funds generated by the fees will be integrated into the regional treasury.
@kikisoumokil #nusapenidabali #snorkeling #fishes #bali ♬ Mac DeCarto – ThirdAph℮xTwin
For most tourists joining a boat tour around the Nusa Penida Maritime Protection area, to go snorkeling or diving, the fee will already be included in the package rate.
However, tourists would be wise to ask their tour provider whether this fee is included at the time of booking.
When the fee was introduced back in July dozens of tour providers reported tourists canceling bookings or even not booking tours at all as they feared they were being scammed when they were told about the additional fee.
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However, it is understandable why tourists may be unsure about how, where, and why they are being asked to pay another tourism tax in addition to their tour package rate.
There is already an IDR 15,000 per person fee for visiting Nusa Penida and in February 2024 a new tourism tax will be introduced to all international arrivals in the province.
If tour operators are not arranging the payment for them, tourists may be asked to pay at the harbor as they leave for their trip.
Alternatively, they must log on to www.balimarinepark.baliprov.go.id/ and process payment themselves. Tourists must scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the AtixBali banner, where they will be redirected to the payment portal. It may take a couple of attempts as the website frequently displays
The site is hosted in Bahasa Indonesia and though in the top right of the page, the English translation is available. In the ‘name of the destination, section tourists must type ‘Nusa Penida’.
Then click ‘find tickets’. Confusingly the ticket purchasing page itself is only available in Bahasa Indonesia. Adults must select ‘Tiket Masuk Mancanegara Dewasa’ and for children’s tickets select ‘Tiket Masuk Mancanegara Anak-Anak’.
For tourists planning on diving or snorkeling in the area for more than one day during their trip, it is more cost-effective to by the ‘Tiket Penelitian Mancanegara 1 Bulan’ which costs IDR 200,000 and is available for one month. This option is on the second page of the ticketing portal. Then proceed to payment.
Snorkeling and diving with manta rays and other tropical marine life in the protected waters off Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan is one of the most popular adventure and nature activities for tourists in Bali.
The Nusa Penida Marine Protection Area is one of the most impressive ocean landscapes in Indonesia. The area spans over 20,000 hectares of ocean and is home to manta rays, sunfish, turtles, and stunning coral reefs.
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