Klungkung Regency, the Balinese district that governs the Nusa islands, took 2.7bn rupiah in tourism charges on Nusa Penida from 1 to 9 September, against 1.1bn in the first ten days of August, after switching to single-gate collection1. The regency's charge on foreign visitors began on 1 September. Its tourism office gave no visitor count, and the old per-site charge also fell on domestic visitors, so the figure shows revenue, not how many foreigners paid.
Bali's own levy reached about 43% of foreign visitors by 20 September, the same share as in August, after airlines were asked to announce it from late August. About 57% of foreign arrivals still do not pay it. Governor Wayan Koster said carriers need time to change their procedures2.
The Ngurah Rai Immigration Office said on 29 September it had deported a foreign national who worked as a motorcycle instructor on a Remote Worker limited-stay permit (ITAS, Indonesia's temporary stay permit)3. The remote-worker category is meant for people who work for employers abroad, and the case shows that local paid work on it can end in deportation.
On 30 September Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) passed the file in its alleged residence-permit extortion case to prosecutors, with eight suspects, including former deputy immigration minister Silmy Karim4. A Jakarta court had rejected Karim's pre-trial challenge the day before. The KPK alleges 145.5bn rupiah was extracted from foreign applicants. Karim was dismissed in June and his detention was extended that month. No court has tried the allegations.
