australia restricting overseas travel a major concern for bali tourism

As the likelihood of Australia's border remaining closed for international travel until late next year increase, it also increase the concern among the tourism players in Bali as they have been counting on the return of foreign specially Australian travelers to revive their economy.

An Aussie Official confirmed last week that Aussies shouldn't expect to travel abroad until late 2021 due to the restrictions of covid-19.  Josh Frydenberg, the country's treasurer stated that while the domestic travel might resume by the end of 2020, international travel may not still be possible till 2021 or until there is a vaccine.

“Of course [this latest update] is a great concern, this potentially poses a threat to tourism in Bali,” I Gusti Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, who is deputy chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) in Bali, said, citing the fact that Australians made up the highest number of tourists visiting the province in 2019. 

“We’re really hoping that [borders] will open for foreign tourists. But at this time a number of countries are still closed.”

Focusing on domestic tourism may have helped reviving the economy of Bali a little however officials have observed it not to be enough. Hotels require a minimum of 40% occupancy threshold to turn a profit, however the rate is hovering between 5-9% since the opening of domestic tourism in July.

The tourism dominated economy of Bali has been majorly impacted by the corona virus, with more than 76,000 workers furloughed and 532 companies shutting down operations in Badung regency alone, as of early October. 

In addition, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Wishnutama has expressed concerns that there’s a negative image of Indonesian tourism at the moment in Australia. 

“Our tourism image is not in a good condition. The perspectives abroad, especially in Australia … I see that there’s been negative reports coming out of Australian media,” Wishnutama said.