According to multiple media reports, the provincial government of Bali, Indonesia, is reviewing a new regulation that would require foreign tourists to disclose their bank account balances over the past three months and submit a detailed itinerary, including expected length of stay and travel plans.
The measure has been written into a draft Regulation on High-Quality Tourism Management and is currently under review by the provincial legislature.
Data show that Bali received 6.333 million foreign visitors in 2024, up 20.10% year on year. Among them, Chinese tourists accounted for approximately 448,000 visits, a surge of 60.10% compared with the previous year.
In sheer numbers, Chinese tourists are returning. But in practical terms, the proposed rule could affect Chinese travelers more directly.
Industry insiders note that most Chinese citizens travel to Bali on visa-on-arrival, a relatively streamlined process. Precisely because of that, any added screening requirements would first put pressure on frontline airport operations.
Even if the final rate of entry refusal remains low, the mere possibility of being randomly checked could be enough to reshape travelers’ expectations and behavior.
The real issue, perhaps, is not the number of tourists, but the fact that Bali’s carrying capacity has been pushed to its limits.
In 2024, around 29 million tourists poured into Bali—nearly seven times the island’s resident population.
Yet this staggering influx has not translated into the economic gains policymakers had hoped for.
Economic growth on the island slowed from 5.7% in 2023 to 5.5%, while average spending by international visitors declined. One key reason is that Chinese tourists—often seen as the highest-spending group—have only recovered to about one-third of their pre-pandemic numbers.
Filling the gap instead are more budget-conscious travelers who stay longer and place greater strain on public resources, including long-term “digital nomads” and backpackers chasing ultra-low costs.
From a policymaker’s perspective, terms like proof of funds, travel itineraries, and “high-quality tourism” point to an ideal visitor profile: stays that are limited in duration, financially secure, behaviorally predictable, and easier to manage.
