In Indonesia's popular tourist destination Bali, a rule is being pushed that would require foreign tourists to disclose their bank account balances in advance.
On the 9th (local time), according to Hong Kong outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) and others, the Bali provincial government recently began reviewing a new rule that would require foreign tourists to disclose the balances of their bank accounts for the past three months. The minimum amount of deposits that foreign tourists must prove has not been disclosed.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster said the measure is slated to be included in a draft regulation on "high-quality tourism management," adding that the provincial council is in the final stages of review. If the council passes the regulation, foreign tourists visiting Bali will also have to submit a travel itinerary, including their length of stay and tourism plans.
Koster said recently via state news agency Antara, "To promote high-quality tourism, one of the important factors is the size of (tourists') savings over the past three months," adding, "When we (Indonesians) travel to other countries, we are subject to similar policies. We will do the same."
SCMP reported that Indonesians must submit proof of funds and an itinerary when applying for visas to travel to places such as European countries, the United States, or Australia.
Koster said, "This regulation is to ensure that (foreign) tourists truly respect Bali's rules and culture and have sufficient funds," adding, "We must not have situations where someone stays for three weeks with only a week's worth of funds, ends up stranded, and commits crimes."
Some warn the measure could reduce the number of tourists to Bali. I Wayan Suyadna, a sociology lecturer at Brawijaya University in Indonesia, said it is "an inappropriate and hasty policy that will inconvenience tourists," noting, "The policies currently being implemented by the Bali provincial government are not solving tourism-related problems."
Agung Bagus Pratiksa Ringgi, a member of the Bali Provincial Council, also said, "The immigration office is an agency under the central government," adding, "Without the central government's permission, the Bali provincial government has no authority to verify tourists' deposits."
The number of foreign tourists who visited Bali last year reached 7.05 million, the most in the past 10 years. That was up 11.3% from 6.3 million in 2024.