Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

English Newsroom

Learn English through news articles - complete lesson plans, including articles, listening, classroom activities, quiz questions and more!

Bali Implements Tourist Levy to Protect Environment and Culture

Foreign tourists visiting Bali will now have to pay a levy to protect the island's environment and culture.

Try this article at a different level?

 

Starting from Valentine’s Day, foreign tourists visiting Bali, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, will have to pay a fee when they arrive. The fee is 150,000 rupiah, which is about £7.60 or $9.60. The Indonesian government introduced this fee to protect Bali’s environment and culture. Bali is famous for its amazing beaches, great surfing waves, and beautiful landscapes. In 2022, almost 4.8 million tourists visited Bali, and they played a big part in the island’s economy. The fee applies to tourists from other countries or other parts of Indonesia, but not to Indonesian tourists. People are encouraged to pay the fee before they arrive through the Love Bali website.

In November 2022, the largest number of tourists to Bali came from Australia, with over 100,000 arrivals. After that, there were tourists from India, China, and Singapore. But some tourists in Bali have been causing problems and annoying the local people. For example, a man from Russia took off his clothes on Mount Agung, which is a sacred place for Hindus. And a couple from Russia had sex on Mount Batur. People got really angry about these things. So the authorities have done some things to try to fix the problem. They have sent the people who did these things back to their own countries, and they are planning to stop foreign tourists from using motorbikes because they have been breaking the traffic laws.

The announcement about the fee for tourists came on the same day that millions of Indonesians voted for a new president and government. Indonesia has 17,000 islands and three different time zones, and there are more than 200 million people who can vote. The government introduced the fee because they want to balance the needs of tourism with protecting Bali’s natural environment and culture. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism made up about 60% of Bali’s economy. By charging this fee, the government hopes to get money to help protect the environment and keep Bali’s unique culture alive.

In conclusion, starting from Valentine’s Day, foreign tourists visiting Bali will have to pay a fee when they arrive. The fee is meant to protect Bali’s environment and culture. Bali is a popular place for tourists because of its beautiful beaches, surfing waves, and landscapes. The fee applies to tourists from other countries or other parts of Indonesia, but not to Indonesian tourists. The government introduced the fee because they want to balance tourism with protecting the environment and culture.

Original news source: Bali to charge foreign tourists $10 entry tax (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

1feeMoney that you have to pay for a service
2environmentThe natural world around us, including plants, animals, and the weather
3cultureThe way of life, including traditions, beliefs, and practices, of a group of people
4landscapesThe natural scenery of an area, including mountains, valleys, and rivers
5economyThe system of how money is made and used within a particular country or region
6authoritiesPeople or organizations that have the power to make decisions and enforce rules
7sacredConsidered to be holy and deserving respect, especially in religious contexts
8pandemicA worldwide outbreak of a disease
9balanceTo keep different elements in a state of equality or proportion
10uniqueHaving no equal; being the only one of its kind
11annoyingCausing irritation or displeasure
12motorbikesTwo-wheeled vehicles powered by an engine, commonly used for transportation
13traffic lawsRules that are made to control how vehicles move on the roads
14electionThe process by which a country’s leaders are chosen
15time zonesRegions of the Earth that are divided according to specific times

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Provide each group with a copy of the article.
3. Instruct each group to read the article and summarize the main points in their own words.
4. Give the groups a set amount of time to complete the task.
5. Have each group present their summary to the class.

– Opinion Poll

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs.
2. Instruct each pair to discuss their opinion on the new tourist fee in Bali.
3. Provide a set of questions for the pairs to answer, such as:
– Do you think the tourist fee is fair?
– Do you think the fee will help protect Bali’s environment and culture?
– How do you think the fee will impact tourism in Bali?
4. After the pairs have discussed their opinions, ask for volunteers to share their thoughts with the class.

– Keyword Hangman

Instructions:
1. Write key words from the article on the board, leaving out some letters.
2. Divide the class into two teams.
3. Choose a word and have one team guess a letter.
4. If the letter is in the word, write it in the correct position. If not, draw part of a hangman on the board.
5. Alternate turns between the teams until one team guesses the word correctly or the hangman is complete.
6. Repeat with different words from the article.

– Pros and Cons

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Assign each group either the role of a tourist or a local resident.
3. Instruct each group to create a list of pros and cons for the new tourist fee in Bali from their assigned perspective.
4. Give the groups a set amount of time to complete the task.
5. Have each group present their lists to the class, discussing the different perspectives.

– Speed Summarizing

Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs.
2. Provide each pair with a copy of the article.
3. Instruct each pair to take turns summarizing the article in 1 minute or less.
4. After each summary, the listener should provide feedback on the accuracy and clarity of the summary.
5. Encourage the pairs to try to improve their summarizing skills with each round.
6. Repeat the activity with new pairs and a different time limit, such as 30 seconds or 45 seconds.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the purpose of the fee that foreign tourists have to pay when they arrive in Bali?
2. How much is the fee that foreign tourists have to pay?
3. Why did the Indonesian government introduce this fee?
4. What are some of the reasons why Bali is a popular tourist destination?
5. Who does the fee apply to?
6. What are some of the problems that some tourists in Bali have caused?
7. What actions have the authorities taken to address these problems caused by tourists?
8. Why did the government introduce the fee and what do they hope to achieve with it?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Starting from Valentine’s Day, (1)______ tourists visiting Bali, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, will have to pay a fee when they arrive. The fee is 150,000 rupiah, which is about £7.60 or $9.60. The (2)______n government introduced this fee to protect Bali’s (3)______ and culture. Bali is famous for its amazing beaches, great surfing waves, and beautiful landscapes. In 2022, almost 4.8 million tourists visited Bali, and they played a big part in the island’s economy. The fee (4)______ to tourists from other countries or other parts of Indonesia, but not to Indonesian tourists. People are encouraged to pay the fee before they arrive through the Love Bali website.

In November 2022, the largest (5)______ of (6)______ to Bali came from Australia, with over 100,000 arrivals. After that, there were tourists from India, China, and Singapore. But some tourists in Bali have been causing (7)______ and annoying the local people. For example, a man from Russia took off his clothes on Mount (8)______, which is a sacred place for Hindus. And a couple from Russia had sex on Mount Batur. People got really angry about these things. So the authorities have done some things to try to fix the problem. They have sent the people who did these things back to their own countries, and they are planning to stop foreign tourists from using motorbikes because they have been (9)______ the traffic laws.

The announcement about the fee for tourists came on the same day that millions of Indonesians (10)______ for a new president and government. Indonesia has 17,000 islands and three different time zones, and there are more than 200 million people who can vote. The government introduced the fee because they want to balance the needs of (11)______ with protecting Bali’s (12)______ environment and culture. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism made up about 60% of Bali’s economy. By charging this fee, the government hopes to get money to help protect the environment and keep Bali’s (13)______ (14)______ alive.

In conclusion, starting from Valentine’s Day, foreign tourists visiting Bali will have to pay a fee when they arrive. The fee is meant to protect Bali’s environment and culture. Bali is a popular place for tourists because of its beautiful beaches, surfing (15)______, and landscapes. The fee applies to tourists from (16)______ countries or other parts of Indonesia, but not to Indonesian tourists. The government introduced the fee because they want to balance tourism with protecting the environment and culture.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What do you think about the new fee for foreign tourists visiting Bali?
2. How would you feel if you had to pay a fee to visit a popular tourist destination?
3. Do you think it’s fair that the fee only applies to foreign tourists and not Indonesian tourists? Why or why not?
4. What are some ways that tourism can negatively affect the environment and culture of a place?
5. Have you ever visited a place that had a fee for tourists? How did you feel about it?
6. What do you think about the government’s decision to send tourists who caused problems back to their own countries?
7. How important do you think it is to protect the natural environment and culture of a tourist destination?
8. Do you think the fee will discourage tourists from visiting Bali? Why or why not?
9. What are some ways that tourists can show respect for the local people and culture when visiting a foreign country?
10. How do you think the fee money should be used to protect Bali’s environment and culture?
11. Have you ever witnessed tourists behaving inappropriately in a foreign country? How did it make you feel?
12. What are some other ways that the government could address the issues caused by tourists in Bali?
13. Do you think the fee will have a positive impact on Bali’s economy? Why or why not?
14. How do you think the fee will affect the number of tourists visiting Bali in the future?
15. What are some other popular tourist destinations that you think should implement a fee to protect their environment and culture? Why?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. fee
2. environment
3. culture
4. landscapes
5. economy
6. authorities
7. sacred
8. pandemic
9. balance
10. unique
11. annoying
12. motorbikes
13. traffic laws
14. election
15. time zones

Meanings:
(A) The natural scenery of an area, including mountains, valleys, and rivers
(B) The process by which a country’s leaders are chosen
(C) Causing irritation or displeasure
(D) A worldwide outbreak of a disease
(E) Rules that are made to control how vehicles move on the roads
(F) Two-wheeled vehicles powered by an engine, commonly used for transportation
(G) Having no equal; being the only one of its kind
(H) The way of life, including traditions, beliefs, and practices, of a group of people
(I) People or organizations that have the power to make decisions and enforce rules
(J) The system of how money is made and used within a particular country or region
(K) Regions of the Earth that are divided according to specific times
(L) Considered to be holy and deserving respect, especially in religious contexts
(M) To keep different elements in a state of equality or proportion
(N) Money that you have to pay for a service
(O) The natural world around us, including plants, animals, and the weather
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why did the Indonesian government introduce a fee for foreign tourists visiting Bali?
(a) To discourage tourists from visiting Bali
(b) To protect Bali’s environment and culture
(c) To make money for the government
(d) To provide better facilities for tourists

2. How much is the fee that foreign tourists have to pay when they arrive in Bali?
(a) £7.60
(b) $9.60
(c) 150,000 rupiah
(d) All of the above

3. Who does the fee apply to?
(a) Tourists from other countries or other parts of Indonesia
(b) Only tourists from Australia
(c) Only tourists from India, China, and Singapore
(d) Only Indonesian tourists

4. What is Bali famous for?
(a) Historical landmarks and museums
(b) Amazing beaches, great surfing waves, and beautiful landscapes
(c) Shopping malls and luxury resorts
(d) Theme parks and water parks

5. Which country had the largest number of tourists visiting Bali in November 2022?
(a) India
(b) China
(c) Australia
(d) Singapore

6. Why did the authorities send some tourists back to their own countries?
(a) They didn’t pay the tourist fee
(b) They stayed in Bali for too long
(c) They didn’t follow the traffic laws
(d) They caused problems and annoyed the local people

7. What are the authorities planning to do to fix the problems caused by tourists?
(a) Stop foreign tourists from using motorbikes
(b) Increase the tourist fee
(c) Build more hotels and resorts
(d) Provide better transportation options for tourists

8. Why did the government introduce the fee for tourists?
(a) To discourage tourists from visiting Bali
(b) To make money for the government
(c) To improve the facilities and infrastructure in Bali
(d) To balance the needs of tourism with protecting Bali’s natural environment and culture

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. In 2022, nearly 4.8 million travelers visited Bali, significantly impacting the island’s economy.
2. The government plans to address these issues by sending offenders back to their home countries and restricting foreign tourists from using motorbikes.
3. Tourists engaging in inappropriate behavior, such as public nudity and indecent acts, have caused problems in Bali.
4. The Indonesian government enacted this charge to preserve Bali’s environment and culture.
5. Bali is renowned for its stunning beaches, excellent surfing waves, and picturesque landscapes.
6. The charge only affects tourists from other countries or other parts of Indonesia, but not Indonesian tourists.
7. Foreign tourists visiting Bali will need to pay a fee starting from Valentine’s Day.
8. The fee is 180,000 rupiah, which is around £7.60 or $9.60.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.




Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Why do foreign tourists have to pay a fee when they visit Bali?
2. How much is the fee that foreign tourists have to pay?
3. What are some of the problems that tourists in Bali have caused?
4. What actions have the authorities taken to address these problems?
5. Why did the Indonesian government introduce the fee for tourists?

Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the purpose of the fee that foreign tourists have to pay when they arrive in Bali?
The purpose of the fee is to protect Bali’s environment and culture.

2. How much is the fee that foreign tourists have to pay?
The fee is 150,000 rupiah, which is about £7.60 or $9.60.

3. Why did the Indonesian government introduce this fee?
The Indonesian government introduced this fee to balance the needs of tourism with protecting Bali’s natural environment and culture.

4. What are some of the reasons why Bali is a popular tourist destination?
Bali is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches, great surfing waves, and stunning landscapes.

5. Who does the fee apply to?
The fee applies to tourists from other countries or other parts of Indonesia, but not to Indonesian tourists.

6. What are some of the problems that some tourists in Bali have caused?
Some tourists in Bali have caused problems by disrespecting sacred places, such as taking off their clothes on Mount Agung or engaging in inappropriate behavior on Mount Batur.

7. What actions have the authorities taken to address these problems caused by tourists?
The authorities have sent the people who caused these problems back to their own countries, and they are planning to stop foreign tourists from using motorbikes due to traffic law violations.

8. Why did the government introduce the fee and what do they hope to achieve with it?
The government introduced the fee to generate funds that can be used to protect Bali’s environment and preserve its unique culture. They hope that the fee will help maintain a balance between tourism and the well-being of the island.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) foreign
(2) Indonesia
(3) environment
(4) applies
(5) number
(6) tourists
(7) problems
(8) Agung
(9) breaking
(10) voted
(11) tourism
(12) natural
(13) unique
(14) culture
(15) waves
(16) other
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. fee
Answer: (N) Money that you have to pay for a service

2. environment
Answer: (O) The natural world around us, including plants, animals, and the weather

3. culture
Answer: (H) The way of life, including traditions, beliefs, and practices, of a group of people

4. landscapes
Answer: (A) The natural scenery of an area, including mountains, valleys, and rivers

5. economy
Answer: (J) The system of how money is made and used within a particular country or region

6. authorities
Answer: (I) People or organizations that have the power to make decisions and enforce rules

7. sacred
Answer: (L) Considered to be holy and deserving respect, especially in religious contexts

8. pandemic
Answer: (D) A worldwide outbreak of a disease

9. balance
Answer: (M) To keep different elements in a state of equality or proportion

10. unique
Answer: (G) Having no equal; being the only one of its kind

11. annoying
Answer: (C) Causing irritation or displeasure

12. motorbikes
Answer: (F) Two-wheeled vehicles powered by an engine, commonly used for transportation

13. traffic laws
Answer: (E) Rules that are made to control how vehicles move on the roads

14. election
Answer: (B) The process by which a country’s leaders are chosen

15. time zones
Answer: (K) Regions of the Earth that are divided according to specific times
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why did the Indonesian government introduce a fee for foreign tourists visiting Bali?
Answer: (b) To protect Bali’s environment and culture

2. How much is the fee that foreign tourists have to pay when they arrive in Bali?
Answer: (c) 150,000 rupiah

3. Who does the fee apply to?
Answer: (a) Tourists from other countries or other parts of Indonesia

4. What is Bali famous for?
Answer: (b) Amazing beaches, great surfing waves, and beautiful landscapes

5. Which country had the largest number of tourists visiting Bali in November 2022?
Answer: (c) Australia

6. Why did the authorities send some tourists back to their own countries?
Answer: (d) They caused problems and annoyed the local people

7. What are the authorities planning to do to fix the problems caused by tourists?
Answer: (a) Stop foreign tourists from using motorbikes

8. Why did the government introduce the fee for tourists?
Answer: (d) To balance the needs of tourism with protecting Bali’s natural environment and culture
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. In 2022, nearly 4.8 million travelers visited Bali, significantly impacting the island’s economy. (Answer: False)
2. The government plans to address these issues by sending offenders back to their home countries and restricting foreign tourists from using motorbikes. (Answer: True)
3. Tourists engaging in inappropriate behavior, such as public nudity and indecent acts, have caused problems in Bali. (Answer: True)
4. The Indonesian government enacted this charge to preserve Bali’s environment and culture. (Answer: False)
5. Bali is renowned for its stunning beaches, excellent surfing waves, and picturesque landscapes. (Answer: True)
6. The charge only affects tourists from other countries or other parts of Indonesia, but not Indonesian tourists. (Answer: False)
7. Foreign tourists visiting Bali will need to pay a fee starting from Valentine’s Day. (Answer: True)
8. The fee is 180,000 rupiah, which is around £7.60 or $9.60. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

How about these other Level 3 articles?

🎉 Coming Soon ⏳

🧑‍💻 1 to 1 Online English Classes 👩🏻‍💻

Practice English through Zoom with me, Paul, or one of the teachers I have chosen for you. Suitable for all ages and levels.

Choose the teacher and time you want. 🧑🏻‍🏫👩‍🏫⌚️

You can learn:
– English writing skills (essays, emails, etc.) 
– English conversation practice 
– English pronunciation practice
– Textbook classes
Anything you want

Introductory prices:
60 minute class with native speaker (e.g. Paul): US$34.99 US$24.99
60 minute class with non-native speaker (e.g. Philippines, Indonesia): US$9.99 US$7.99

Interested? Please fill in the form and I will contact you soon!

Feedback