20,000 visitors expected during the holiday season in bali

An official from the Tourism Association has estimated that Bali will receive 20,000 domestic visitors during the upcoming holiday season.

The president of the Indonesian Association of Hotels and Restaurants in Badung, I Gusti Ngurah Suryawijaya, confirmed, based on the data, that Bali is expected to receive many domestic tourists during the holiday season.

“Based on our data, we received over 13,000 visitors across the country this week. I predict the number will increase to 20,000 during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, ”Suryawijaya said on Wednesday (12/15).

Hotel occupancy rates in Bali are expected to increase by 50-60%.

Suryawijaya also reminded the Bali tourism sector to implement strict prevention protocols to avoid the formation of Covid-19 clusters. However, he admitted that he intended to seek government relief on travel policies to immediately attract international visitors.

"I would suggest that the government revise the quarantine policy, especially for those who have tested negative for Covid-19," Suryawijaya added.

He also proposed that the government reactivate the visa on arrival (VOA) application, as many tourists struggle to find sponsors for their trips to the island. "Indonesian visa and direct flight policies must be revised in the near future, as airlines are reluctant to carry only a few passengers," Suryawijaya concluded.