bali back on high ranking on hotel booking sites
Agoda, a hotel booking service, has released its most recent data on travel trends, and searches for Bali are on the rise. The online travel platform is one of the most popular websites for travelers, and its data support the Indonesian government's position that the island is irreversibly open for business.
Aodga's data covers searches from February 2022, when Indonesia declared the reopening of borders, through early May. Search interest in the renowned beach location is at an all-time high. In comparison to other Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia came in third, barely ahead of Thailand and the Philippines. Bali was the most-searched-for location in Indonesia.
Agoda has been analyzing searches for more than just destinations; they have also been keeping an eye on where prospective tourists are coming from. If searches turn into bookings, Bali should expect an inflow of tourists from Australia, the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. According to Agoda, the largest rise in searches for hotels and other accommodation in Bali came from Australia, which increased by 220%, and Singapore, which increased by 200%.
Gede Gunawan, Senior Director at Agoda Indonesia, stated in an interview, "Pristine beaches and the distinct culture and charm of Bali are undeniably luring people back." Whether tourists are a half-day flight away or only a few hours from the island, many still regard Bali to be a perfect vacation location and plan to return as soon as possible.
Agoda has also provided the public with a breakdown of the most googled destinations in Bali. Kuta and Seminyak ranked first and second, as they did prior to the pandemic. Ubud's laidback and jungly appeal helped it rank third among Bali's most searched destinations, with Nusa Dua a close fourth.
Canggu, Ulutwau, Amed, and Lovina did make the list, but their popularity pales in comparison to the legendary Kuta and Seminyak. Accommodation in quieter, further-from-the-airport areas is advised for those who want to experience the Bali atmosphere without the rising crowds.
In the next weeks, online booking platforms and travel service providers anticipate an even higher rise in queries and bookings. The Indonesian government suspended the pre-arrival PCR test for visitors to the country on Tuesday. This is good news for potential visitors who had to budget for the equivalent of an extra night of lodging simply for their PCR testing. Passport control now requires travelers to show their Covid-19 vaccine certificate.
Those who are exempt from the vaccine do not need to submit a vaccine certificate but must show a letter signed by a medical doctor confirming their exemption status. Travelers under the age of 18 are likewise exempt from showing a vaccination certificate.
Quarantine-free travel, visa-on-arrival for visitors from 60 countries, the elimination of the pre-arrival PCR test, and easing of mask regulations in outdoor settings are proven to be winning formulas for Bali's tourism industry. Travel providers such as Agoda will do everything possible to help facilitate growing demand and ensure that prospective tourists are confident and educated ahead of their arrival.
Bali is trying to ramp up its efforts to make the Covid-19 vaccine available to the general public. Denpasar, Bali's major city, now has the highest vaccination rate in all of Indonesia. The majority of people have had their second shot of the vaccine, and the local administration is now providing booster doses. The Covid-19 Task Force declared that they will focus their efforts on ensuring that the elderly population receives their immunizations, as this was the demographic with the most concerns.