"If You Won't Spend Much, Don't Come"... Bali Considers Requiring Tourists to Prove Bank Balances

Bali Authorities Aim for "High-Quality Tourism"
Considering Measures Requiring Disclosure of Bank Account Balances
"Necessary for Sustainable Tourism" vs. "Impractical"
Debate Divided Over New Regulation

Bali, Indonesia, a world-renowned tourist destination often called the "Island of Paradise," is considering a regulation that would require foreign tourists to disclose their bank account balances for the past three months. This measure aims to reduce the number of low-spending tourists and encourage so-called "high-quality tourism."

Bali, Indonesia. Photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Unsplash

On January 9 (local time), the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that "Bali, Indonesia is reviewing a regulation that would mandate foreign tourists to disclose their bank balances for the past three months."

Wayan Koster, Governor of Bali, announced plans to include this measure in the draft of a "Regional Regulation on High-Quality Tourism Management," stating that the legislative process in the regional council is now in its final stages. In an interview with Indonesia's state-run news agency Antara on January 2, Governor Koster said, "One of the criteria for high-quality tourism is whether tourists have sufficient savings for the past three months."

If the draft is passed, foreign tourists will be required to submit their travel itineraries, including their bank balance statements, length of stay, schedule, and planned activities in Bali. Indonesia has previously required some visa applicants to submit bank statements showing a minimum balance of around $2,000 (approximately 2.9 million won), but such financial proof has not been required for general tourists entering the country.

Bali, Indonesia. Pexels

Governor Koster explained, "This is a measure to manage everything, and it is similar to the systems we encounter when traveling to other countries," adding, "We will apply the same standards." In fact, Indonesian citizens are often required to provide financial proof and travel itineraries when applying for visas to countries such as those in Europe, the United States, and Australia.

Bali Authorities: "We Want Tourists Who Respect Bali and Have Sufficient Funds"

However, it remains uncertain whether the Bali provincial government will be able to actually enforce such regulations. Immigration control in Indonesia is under the authority of the central government in Jakarta, and the provincial government does not have the legal authority to directly verify the financial information of foreign tourists.

Although Governor Koster stated that the regulation could be implemented as early as this year if passed, he did not specify the minimum balance requirement that would be imposed on foreign tourists.

In an interview with local media Radar Bali on January 3, he said, "This is to prevent cases where people plan to stay for three weeks without sufficient funds but only bring enough money for one week and end up involved in crime," adding, "We want tourists who respect Bali, follow the rules and culture, and have sufficient funds."

"Such Requirements Are Common Overseas" vs. "Causes Inconvenience for Tourists and Lacks Practicality"

This proposal has sparked debate. Chusnunia Chalim, a lawmaker from the ruling party, said, "These are the same requirements our citizens face when applying for visas abroad," and described it as "a policy for sustainable and high-quality tourism."

On the other hand, concerns have been raised that this could lead to a decline in tourist arrivals. I Wayan Suyadnya, a sociology professor at Brawijaya University, commented, "This is an inappropriate and hasty policy that could only inconvenience tourists," and added, "The current policy of the Bali government does not address the fundamental problems of tourism development."

Agung Bagus Pratiksa Linggi, a member of the Bali Regional Council, also criticized the regulation, saying, "Without approval from the central government, it is virtually unenforceable and lacks practicality."

Meanwhile, according to Bali authorities, the island attracted 7.05 million foreign tourists in 2025. This represents an 11.3% increase from the previous year and is the highest figure in the past decade.