The Indonesian resort haven of Bali began imposing a 150,000 rupiah ($10) tax on arriving tourists Wednesday (Feb 14) to preserve the culture of the "Island of Gods", officials said.

Tourist-dependent Bali attracts millions of foreign visitors annually and the beach-dotted island is trying to capitalise on its popularity to boost its coffers and protect its tropical allure.

"This levy is aimed at the protection of the culture and the environment in Bali," Bali's acting governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya said at a launch ceremony Monday (Feb 12).

The fee will have to be paid electronically through the "Love Bali" online portal and will apply to foreign tourists entering Bali from abroad or from other parts of Indonesia, according to a press release.

The levy will not apply to domestic Indonesian tourists.

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Nearly 4.8 million tourists visited Bali between January and November last year, according to official figures, as the island continued to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic after imposing a zero-tolerance policy on rule-breakers.

The palm-fringed hotspot has vowed a crackdown on misbehaving tourists after a spate of incidents that have included acts of disrespect to the predominantly Hindu island's culture.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-proposes-visa-free-arrivals-for-20-countries-including-india-668158">Also read |&nbsp;Indonesia proposes visa-free arrivals for 20 countries, including India</a>

Incidents in recent years have included foreign tourists posing for naked photographs at sacred sites and flashing in the street.

Last year, the local government published an etiquette guide for tourists who wish to visit Bali after being pressed to do so by the island's immigration office.&nbsp;

The Indonesian resort haven of Bali began imposing a 150,000 rupiah ($10) tax on arriving tourists Wednesday (Feb 14) to preserve the culture of the "Island of Gods", officials said.

The Indonesian resort haven of Bali began imposing a 150,000 rupiah ($10) tax on arriving tourists Wednesday (Feb 14) to preserve the culture of the "Island of Gods", officials said. Tourist-dependent Bali attracts millions of foreign visitors annually and the beach-dotted island is trying to capitalise on its popularity to boost its coffers and protect its tropical allure. "This levy is aimed at the protection of the culture and the environment in Bali," Bali's acting governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya said at a launch ceremony Monday (Feb 12). The fee will have to be paid electronically through the "Love Bali" online portal and will apply to foreign tourists entering Bali from abroad or from other parts of Indonesia, according to a press release. The levy will not apply to domestic Indonesian tourists. Watch | Indonesia Elections: Voting begins as over 200 million head to polls × Nearly 4.8 million tourists visited Bali between January and November last year, according to official figures, as the island continued to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic after imposing a zero-tolerance policy on rule-breakers. The palm-fringed hotspot has vowed a crackdown on misbehaving tourists after a spate of incidents that have included acts of disrespect to the predominantly Hindu island's culture. Also read | Indonesia proposes visa-free arrivals for 20 countries, including India Incidents in recent years have included foreign tourists posing for naked photographs at sacred sites and flashing in the street. Last year, the local government published an etiquette guide for tourists who wish to visit Bali after being pressed to do so by the island's immigration office.

Bali's $10 tourism tax kicks into effect. Know who will be affected

&nbsp;Bali airport reopened on Wednesday,&nbsp;Indonesian authorities said, two days after a volcanic eruption spread ash across the holiday island and forced its airport to close, stranding tourists and spurring evacuation efforts.

&quot;Bali&#39;s international airport started operating normally,&quot; air traffic control provider AirNav said in a statement, adding that operations resumed at 2:28 p.m. (0628 GMT).

The reopening followed a downgrade in the authorities&#39; aviation warning to &quot;orange&quot;, one level below the most serious.

The decision to resume operations followed an emergency meeting at the airport, weighed up weather conditions, tests and data from AirNav and other groups, AirNav added.

Singapore Airlines Ltd said it would resume flights between Singapore and Bali on Wednesday. Australia&#39;s Qantas Airways Ltd said it and budget arm Jetstar would run 16 flights to Australia on Thursday to ferry home 3,800 stranded customers.

A large plume of white and grey ash and smoke hovered above Agung on Wednesday, after night-time rain partially obscured a fiery glow at its peak over the last few days.

President Joko Widodo implored residents living in a zone around Agung deemed at risk to seek refuge in emergency centres, as winds sending an ash cloud southwest across the island once again halted flights.

Earlier, the transport ministry had said Bali&#39;s airport, the country&#39;s second biggest, would stay shut until at least 7 a.m. on Thursday (2300 GMT on Wednesday).

A spokesman for Bali&#39;s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport said as many as 430 domestic and international flights had been disrupted on Wednesday by the closure of the airport, about 60 km (37 miles) away from Mount Agung.

Agung towers over eastern Bali to a height of just over 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). Its last major eruption in 1963 killed more than 1,000 people and razed several villages.

Layers of ash coated cars, roofs and roads in an area southeast of the crater. Children wore masks to walk to school.

Authorities want residents in a radius of about 8 km to 10 km (5 miles to 6 miles) around the volcano to head for emergency centres, warning a larger eruption could be &quot;imminent&quot;. But some are reluctant to leave homes and livestock unattended.

&quot;Those in the 8- to 10-kilometer radius must truly take refuge for safety,&quot; President Widodo told reporters.

He also asked emergency services, military and officials to assist evacuees and help stranded tourists get home.

&quot;There must not be any victims hit by the eruption,&quot; Widodo said.

'Bali's international airport started operating normally,' air traffic control provider AirNav said in a statement, adding that operations resumed at 2:28 p.m. (0628 GMT)

Bali airport reopened on Wednesday, Indonesian authorities said, two days after a volcanic eruption spread ash across the holiday island and forced its airport to close, stranding tourists and spurring evacuation efforts. "Bali's international airport started operating normally," air traffic control provider AirNav said in a statement, adding that operations resumed at 2:28 p.m. (0628 GMT). The reopening followed a downgrade in the authorities' aviation warning to "orange", one level below the most serious. The decision to resume operations followed an emergency meeting at the airport, weighed up weather conditions, tests and data from AirNav and other groups, AirNav added. Singapore Airlines Ltd said it would resume flights between Singapore and Bali on Wednesday. Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd said it and budget arm Jetstar would run 16 flights to Australia on Thursday to ferry home 3,800 stranded customers. A large plume of white and grey ash and smoke hovered above Agung on Wednesday, after night-time rain partially obscured a fiery glow at its peak over the last few days. President Joko Widodo implored residents living in a zone around Agung deemed at risk to seek refuge in emergency centres, as winds sending an ash cloud southwest across the island once again halted flights. Earlier, the transport ministry had said Bali's airport, the country's second biggest, would stay shut until at least 7 a.m. on Thursday (2300 GMT on Wednesday). A spokesman for Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport said as many as 430 domestic and international flights had been disrupted on Wednesday by the closure of the airport, about 60 km (37 miles) away from Mount Agung. Agung towers over eastern Bali to a height of just over 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). Its last major eruption in 1963 killed more than 1,000 people and razed several villages. Layers of ash coated cars, roofs and roads in an area southeast of the crater. Children wore masks to walk to school. Authorities want residents in a radius of about 8 km to 10 km (5 miles to 6 miles) around the volcano to head for emergency centres, warning a larger eruption could be "imminent". But some are reluctant to leave homes and livestock unattended. "Those in the 8- to 10-kilometer radius must truly take refuge for safety," President Widodo told reporters. He also asked emergency services, military and officials to assist evacuees and help stranded tourists get home. "There must not be any victims hit by the eruption," Widodo said.

Indonesia reopens Bali airport after closure over volcano activity

Indonesian authorities on Tuesday extended the closure of the international airport on the resort island of Bali for a second day over fears of a volcanic eruption.

Bali&#39;s Ngurah Rai airport will remain closed until at least Wednesday morning local time.&nbsp;

&quot;The Volcanic Ash Advisory shows that the plane routes have been covered by volcanic ash, this is dangerous for the flights,&quot; Indonesian AirNav official Wisnu Darjono said.

Massive columns of thick grey smoke that have been belching from Mount Agung since last week have now begun shooting more than three kilometers&nbsp;into the sky, forcing hundreds of flights to be grounded.

Authorities on Monday warned that the rumbling volcano could erupt at any moment, as they raised alert levels to maximum and accelerated a mass evacuation. The international airport closure left thousands of tourists stranded on the Indonesian holiday island.

Some 40,000 frightened people have fled their homes around the volcano but as many as 100,000 will likely be forced to leave, disaster agency officials have said.

The exclusion zone around Agung, which is 75 kilometers away from the beachside tourist hub of Kuta, has also been widened to 10 kilometers.

Bali's Ngurah Rai airport will remain closed until at least Wednesday morning local time

Indonesian authorities on Tuesday extended the closure of the international airport on the resort island of Bali for a second day over fears of a volcanic eruption. Bali's Ngurah Rai airport will remain closed until at least Wednesday morning local time. "The Volcanic Ash Advisory shows that the plane routes have been covered by volcanic ash, this is dangerous for the flights," Indonesian AirNav official Wisnu Darjono said. Massive columns of thick grey smoke that have been belching from Mount Agung since last week have now begun shooting more than three kilometers into the sky, forcing hundreds of flights to be grounded. Authorities on Monday warned that the rumbling volcano could erupt at any moment, as they raised alert levels to maximum and accelerated a mass evacuation. The international airport closure left thousands of tourists stranded on the Indonesian holiday island. Some 40,000 frightened people have fled their homes around the volcano but as many as 100,000 will likely be forced to leave, disaster agency officials have said. The exclusion zone around Agung, which is 75 kilometers away from the beachside tourist hub of Kuta, has also been widened to 10 kilometers.

Bali airport closed for second day over fears of volcano eruption

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Bali's $10 tourism tax kicks into effect. Know who will be affected

Indonesia reopens Bali airport after closure over volcano activity

Bali airport closed for second day over fears of volcano eruption