Previously, the government has officially relaxed several rules regarding the arrival of foreign tourists to Indonesia. This relaxation of regulations has an impact on the increasing tourists number in Bali.
However, hotel occupancy in Bali has not increased as before the pandemic.
The Deputy Governor of Bali and Chair of the Bali Province PHRI, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati (Cok Ace), said Eid did not have a significant effect on the number of tourist arrivals.
“In terms of tourists, Lebaran doesn’t have much effect. However, it naturally increases too, now it has touched the number of 3,000 from 2,000. So it is currently experiencing an increase, flights are also increasing,” he explained on Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
Furthermore, he believes that the number of tourists will continue to increase, especially domestic tourists.
For now, the total number of domestic tourists visiting Bali after the relaxation of the rules is 7,500 people.
He also predicts that in the future there will be as many as 15,000 visits and even more.
Meanwhile, for hotel occupancy, because the number of tourists has not been normal as before Covid-19, Cok Ace admitted that hotel occupancy has not increased.
“Even though it has doubled, the volume is still only 15 thousand while the number of rooms is more than 140 thousand. In Nusa Dua, let’s say that the center in Bali is still below 30 percent occupancy, that’s okay, we keep moving,” he added.
According to him, the increasing number of tourists after this pandemic has had an impact on people’s psychology.
He also observed that now some accommodations, especially restaurants, have begun to be filled with tourists, although the numbers are not as many as before Covid-19.
“MSMEs can also be seen, in my village, they are open now. The stalls, and art shops are all open, although the number of visitors is not as expected, they already have the enthusiasm to return to normal,” he added.
Cok Ace claims that both foreign tourists and domestic tourists have the same contribution to Bali tourism. For the number of foreign tourists, it is considered not how much, namely 3,000 people.
Of course, this number is very different from before the Covid-19 outbreak, which reached 17,500 to 18,000.
“Now it’s only 3,000, it’s still a long way off. Meanwhile, if wisdom with the facilities provided, road access is improved, flights are improved, I think both have the same impact,” he concluded.
