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Travel

Bali Tourism Levy (Read Entry Fee) Begins On Valentine’s Day February 14, 2024

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Bali’s Government decided last year that they would launch an exciting feature sometime in 2024 called a Tourism Levy that would need to be paid by international visitors every time they enter Bali.

The Government has now set Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2024) as the day this tourism tax will take effect. All international visitors, even if they arrive as domestic passengers from other parts of the country, need to pay this fee.

You can access the Bali Government’s page for this fee information here.

The fee is separate from other fees visitors may have to pay to enter Indonesia, such as Visa, VOA, or eVOA. The Bali government collects this tourism levy intended to “preserve local culture.”

It is not clear where arriving passengers are to show the payment confirmation. Will the Government hire hundreds of employees to manage the various seaports and the airport to ensure that the payment has been made? How can they determine who is Indonesian, exempt from this fee, and who is a foreigner? Will they have a document check on everyone entering the island to ensure that the fee is paid by all who are required?

Also, some foreigners with long-term visas are excluded from this fee, but it appears that they need to apply for exemptions 30 days before arrival in Bali.

Usually, these various tourism levies and fees are baked into airfares, but exempting Indonesians from this form of fee collection would be challenging.

Love Bali invites you to join in supporting the tourism industry, with a focus on protecting the culture and natural environment of Bali.

As a form of support that aims to protect the customs, traditions, arts and culture, and local wisdom of the Balinese people. Bali will impose levy for the international tourist.

Efforts and innovations will continue to be made for maintenance the culture and the natural environment in Bali. There will also continue to be an improvement in the quality of services.

If Bali’s Government really aimed to protect the customs and traditions, they would stop the overdevelopment of hotels and other short-term accommodations aimed at visitors that are putting a tremendous toll on the island’s infrastructure and nature.

Bali Government’s Tourism Levy Information:

Recent Bali & Indonesia  Coverage:

Indonesia Prepares To Return Visa Free Entry Option For 20 Countries + ASEAN From Early 2024

Indonesia Leaks Passport Information Of 9 Million Foreigners

Indonesia Extends VOA & e-VOA For Nationals Of 93 Countries

Indonesia Ends Visa-Free Entry From 159 Countries

Australians Complain About Extremely Long Immigration Lines At Bali Airport

Indonesia’s Lawmakers Passed Law Banning Sex Outside Of Marriage & Cohabitation

Entering Indonesia Through Bali In May 2022

Conclusion

Tourism is vital for Bali’s economy, and the Government wanted to pilot away from it during the pandemic to farming and agriculture (a novel idea).

The small fee won’t deter any tourist from entering the island, but why make it so complicated? Have it included in air and sea fares and be done with it.

Now, tourists need to remember to pay another fee, and there could be yet another set of queue lines when entering Bali to check that the Tourism Levy has been paid or to check your nationality. Or are they going to install automated gates for airport and seaport exits?

I didn’t return to Bali in 2023 (I was there most recently in 2022), but I plan to visit the island likely in March.

Celebrities

Disney Parks and ABC Reveal Guests of Christmas Day Parade

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The “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade” is returning this year for its 40th anniversary. The parade hosts will include Derek and Julianne Hough (Dancing With The Stars), country music performer Mickey Guyton, and The Golden Bachelor host, Jesse Palmer.

The parade, filmed at Walt Disney World Resort, has the traditional Disney characters making their counted-on appearances. Additionally, the musical guest list is stacked and impressive:

  • Derek Hough and Julianne Hough, “Good Morning” and “Deck the Halls” Medley
  • Chrissy Metz, “Silver Bells”
  • The Smashing Pumpkins, “Evergreen”
  • Iam Tongi, “Mele Kalikimaka”
  • The “Aladdin” Broadway and North American Tour Cast, “Friend Like Me”
  • Meg Donnelly, “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)”

Join the conversation online by sharing your own Disney-themed holiday memories with the hashtags #DisneyChristmasCelebration and #DisneyHolidayCelebration on social media.

Celebrities

Audible Announces Release for ‘Third Eye’ Written and Performed by Felicia Day

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From the talented mind of Felicia Day comes Audible’s next highly anticipated original title, Third Eye, and the actress has written and performed the story alongside some very famous friends.

The voice cast of Third Eye includes Neil Gaiman, Sean Astin, London Hughes, Lily Pichu, Christopher Judge, Carolyn Seymour, Laraine Newman, Wil Wheaton, and Danny Pudi. This fantasy adventure brings comedy and heart to listeners and will debut in October.

Third Eye follows our chosen hero, Laurel Pettigrew. Like most of our favorite stories, Laurel was the one hope to defeat the great evil in an epic battle. Destiny seemed to have other plans when Laurel fell flat on her face. Now, instead of the legendary hero that was foretold, she is an outcast. When Laurel failed, it allowed the evil wizard Tybus to take over the realm. With all supernatural creatures under his oppressive rule and stripped of magic if they don’t join him, it is safe to say everyone hates her.

Laurel does have one positive thing in her life: her roommates. Sybil, a sassy fairy, and Frank, a vampire past his prime, are her ride-or-die besties who stick by her side. Soon, things take a weird turn when a surprise guest shows up. Kate is a normal girl who knows a scary amount of information about Laurel. It turns out Kate might just have a secret that will give Laurel and her band of misfits what they need to rewrite their destiny.

Third Eye is a hilarious adventure with enough suspense to keep listeners on the edge of their seats. Prepare to gasp, cheer, and laugh your way through this Audible original debuting October 5. Preorder Third Eye here, and listen to a preview below.

Travel

Venice Introduces Day Visitor Tax In 2024

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Venice City Council approved a plan to start charging a fee on specific busy dates in 2024 for those who don’t stay in the city overnight.

The fee is just 5 euros and will be collected on 30 days next year around the busy Spring and Summer weekends when they wish to see fewer visitors. There are other taxes and fees that those staying overnight pay as part of their hotel bill.

The issue is that it is still unclear what dates you need to have a ticket to visit Venice and if a limited number of tickets will be sold. I doubt that a 5 euro charge will deter anyone coming.

How will Venice police that day visitors have this ticket? Are they going to have a tourist “police” inspecting all incoming tourists to ensure they have paid the fee if required, and how is this even feasible?

It has been estimated that 75% of the tourists visiting Venice don’t stay there overnight and only contribute 20% of the overall tourism spend. It is evident that overnight tourists spend significantly more considering the accommodation and F&B costs in the city.

Venice Mayor’s Announcement:

Google Translate:

The City Council approved, by majority, the “Regulations for the establishment and regulation of the access contribution, with or without a carrier, to the ancient city of the Municipality of Venice and the other smaller islands of the lagoon”.

The provision establishes the guidelines for the introduction of a new tourist flow management system, with the definition of general principles, exclusions, exemptions, controls and sanctions, through a multi-channel and multilingual platform which will be made available shortly. The objective is to discourage daily tourism in certain periods, in line with the delicacy and uniqueness of the City. The experimentation for 2024 will last approximately 30 days, which will be defined by the Council with a specific calendar in the coming weeks. Generally speaking, it will focus on spring long weekends and summer weekends.

Who will have to pay the access fee?

Specifically, it has been established that the access fee must be paid by every natural person over the age of 14 who accesses the ancient city of the Municipality of Venice, unless they fall within the categories of exclusions and exemptions. Generally speaking, the contribution will be requested from daily visitors.

Who will be excluded from paying?

In accordance with the law, residents of the Municipality of Venice, workers (employed or self-employed), including commuters, students of any grade and level of schools and universities located in the ancient city or in the islands will not have to pay the access fee. minors, subjects and members of the families of those who appear to have paid the IMU in the Municipality of Venice.

Who will be exempt from paying?

Those who stay in accommodation facilities located within the municipal territory (overnight tourists), residents in the Veneto Region, children up to 14 years of age, those in need of care, those who participate in sports competitions, police forces on duty, spouse, partner, relatives or similar up to the 3rd degree of residents in the areas in which the Access Contribution is valid, and a further series of exemptions provided for in the Regulation, including high school students on a trip.

Conclusion

Venice is a magical place outside of the hours when the day tourists flock to the city. Early morning hours and late afternoon is the best time.

The city is also a place that you should visit slowly and not try to rush to the few spots to take the same photos as everyone else.

I spend a long weekend in Venice yearly, visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Palazzo Grassi, and the Biennale, and wander for countless hours.

News

Reza Satchu: NEXT Canada Venture Day goes virtual to keep funds flowing to entrepreneurs   

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Published Dec 01, 2020  •  Last updated Dec 05, 2020  •  3 minute read

There’s no question that COVID-19 has made things harder for entrepreneurs looking to grow a business, but the pandemic didn’t get in the way of one of Canada’s biggest demo and pitch events from taking place during a virtual gathering.

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NEXT Venture Day encourages NEXT Canada entrepreneurs to pitch their startup ideas to an audience of business leaders, partners, alumni and investors. The virtual event, which took place in early October, concluded this year’s NEXT 36, NEXT AI and NEXT Founders accelerator programs and showcased 12 out of 80 graduating ventures spanning AI, finance, security, mental health, cleantech, sustainable fashion, and diagnostics.

NEXT Canada was founded by entrepreneur and investor Reza Satchu, who has had success managing a fleet of businesses. Today, he runs Alignvest Management Corporation, a private investment firm based in Toronto.

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Reza Satchu said he didn’t want COVID-19 to dampen the day, so he and his team improvised.

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“Faced with a global pandemic, we turned to technology and we persevered. We chose to deliver our programs virtually, supporting and accelerating 80 of Canada’s most promising entrepreneurs.”

This year’s Venture Day tech startups included Furnishr, a furnishing software platform, and MinervaAI, an automated solution aimed to provide faster, smarter, and more compliant financial crime investigations.

As part of the event, NEXT Canada announced several award winners. Moment Technology, a company that is replacing diesel generators for remote communities by repurposing electric vehicle batteries into sustainable energy storage, was chosen by the audience as the RBC People’s Choice Award.

“NEXT Canada is on a mission to inspire more Canadians to focus on entrepreneurship, and the Venture Day event is just the tip of the iceberg of what we can be doing to facilitate that,” said Satchu.

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The organization, which promotes and supports the success of Canada’s roughly 3.5 million entrepreneurs, is hoping to foster economic growth, competitiveness, and prosperity through entrepreneurship.

NEXT Canada, which Satchu founded in 2010, offers three programs: NEXT 36, NEXT Founders and NEXT AI.  NEXT Canada’s programs provide entrepreneurs with access to capital, education, mentorship, and networking in order to build and scale a company.

As an educator, Satchu wants to help more young entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. In addition to his work with NEXT Canada, he is also a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, where he teaches two courses: Launching Technology Ventures and The Entrepreneurial Manager. Before founding NEXT Canada, Satchu taught at the University of Toronto for seven years.

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“I am fortunate to be in a position where I can give back to Canada, a country that has helped me so much. That is why I created NEXT Canada and why I continue to focus my efforts on helping the next generation of entrepreneurs grow their businesses.”

Satchu’s hope is that over time he can help inspire more young, talented and promising Canadian entrepreneurs so that they will create businesses that are beneficial for the country, and hopefully make an impact globally, too.

“NEXT Canada wants to teach entrepreneurship as a way of living and my hope is to play a part in helping the next generation of innovators.”

One of the ways Canada can help entrepreneurs is by creating a more robust venture capital community.

“COVID has brought so many more uncertainties, especially when it comes to funding,” Satchu said. “Without funding support for entrepreneurs, people from around the world will fail to take notice of the innovation and creativity that’s been happening in Canada.  We need larger venture capital sources.  We need more investors who know what it takes to help an entrepreneur build a billion dollar plus business. If we can do that, people will start looking at Canada as a place where entrepreneurs can build substantial businesses.”

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