Bali has banned all international tourists from entering the popular Indonesian island until the end of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes shortly after announcing they would reopen to international travellers in September.
Bali’s provincial Governor Wayan Koster says the decision to reopen has been reversed due to the island’s mounting coronavirus cases.
Borders are shut to international travellers until 2021. Image Credit: Pixabay
He also notes that many countries like Australia, China, Korea, Japan and most European countries only plan to allow its citizens to travel in 2021. Australia is Bali’s biggest market for tourists.
‘The Indonesian government still enforces a policy that prohibits its citizens from travelling abroad, at least until the end of 2020. In line with that, the Indonesian government has not been able to open the door of entry for foreign tourists to Indonesia until the end of 2020, because Indonesia is still in the red zone category,’ he says.
‘The situation in Indonesia is not yet conducive to allowing foreign tourists to visit, including to Bali.’
Koster adds: ‘The central government supports (Bali’s) plans to recover tourism by opening the doors for international tourists. However, this requires care, prudence, not to be rushed, and requires careful preparation.’
No specific new date has been given for when international travellers may once again visit.
A large part of Bali’s economy is supported by foreign tourists. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, hotel occupancy rates have dropped by nearly 95%. Keeping borders shut until 2021 will be an even bigger knock to this island and the thousands of residents who work in the tourism industry.
Indonesia has had over 155,000 confirmed cases, of which over 111,000 people have recovered and 6 759 people have died.
