Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, recently announced that the revenue from the Foreign Tourist Levy (PWA) for the first half of 2025 has reached an impressive IDR 168 billion. He shared this information during a response to the general views of various factions at the Bali Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) plenary meeting held at the Governor’s Office on Monday, June 30, 2025. “This morning, I calculated that as of June, we have collected IDR 168 billion. Over the course of six months, which is 180 days, that averages out to approximately IDR 933 million per day,” Koster stated.
Koster expressed optimism that if this trend continues, the Provincial Government of Bali could see total revenue of around IDR 340 billion by the end of the year. He hopes that with the new regional regulations and gubernatorial decrees in place, the PWA could potentially reach IDR 500 billion. “If possible, let’s aim for IDR 500 billion,” he remarked.
According to Koster, the Bali Provincial Government has amended the PWA regulations to provide a legal framework for collaboration with third parties, such as hotel operators. He anticipates that these partnerships will commence in July 2025. “If this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is successful, then, God willing, the revenue from the foreign tourist levy can increase,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of transparency. “Once we implement these new regulations, we will publish daily updates on the revenue generated from the foreign tourist levy and its allocations for 2026,” Koster added.
The allocation of PWA funds is intended for traditional villages, in accordance with the regulations governing the levy, which stipulate that the funds should be used for cultural and environmental protection. “If we allocate IDR 300 million per traditional village, multiplied by 1,500 villages, that totals IDR 450 billion. If we increase it to IDR 350 million per village, that adds another IDR 75 billion, bringing the total to IDR 525 billion,” Koster detailed.
The former member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) expressed his hope that PWA revenues would align with the planned allocations for traditional villages, as the Provincial Government of Bali intends to increase the grant for these villages by IDR 50 million. “This way, the allocations will be clear, and the accountability will be transparent, ensuring public trust and preventing corruption,” emphasized Koster, who hails from Sembiran Village in Tejakula, Buleleng.
Koster acknowledged the challenges in optimizing the implementation of the PWA, noting that it is a new policy that has only recently been enacted. He also pointed out weaknesses in the regulations, particularly regarding the lack of provisions for collaboration in revenue collection with third parties.
Previously, members of the Bali DPRD raised concerns about the realization of the PWA, which they believe is still far from its true potential. This sentiment was echoed by Gede Harja Astawa, a member of the Bali DPRD from the Gerindra-PSI faction, during the 19th plenary meeting on June 23, 2025. “Although the revenue from the foreign tourist levy for the 2024 fiscal year has exceeded expectations, with a realization of IDR 317.88 billion against a budget of IDR 250 billion, we, the Gerindra-PSI faction, believe that the realization of the PWA is still far from its actual potential,” Astawa stated.
