- Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on Monday welcomed its first foreign tourists under relaxed coronavirus rules that no longer require arrivals to quarantine.
- Bali drew 6.2 million foreign visitors in 2019, the year before COVID-19 struck.
- With tourism normally making up over 50% of Bali’s economy, many on the island have been desperate to see a faster return of tourists.
As per a recent report by Reuters, the resort island of Bali uplifted its covid restrictions of mandatory quarantine. It welcomed its first foreign tourist on Monday post-covid.
Welcoming the tourists
Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on Monday welcomed its first foreign tourists under relaxed coronavirus rules that no longer require arrivals to quarantine, part of a broader easing of curbs in the Southeast Asian country after infections declined.
The tourism data and the new tourism rules
Known for its surfing, temples, waterfalls and nightlife, Bali drew 6.2 million foreign visitors in 2019, the year before COVID-19 struck.
But only a trickle of visitors has returned since Bali started opening up to foreign tourists last October, discouraged by the need to quarantine and other rules.
Under a pilot programme, fully vaccinated tourists now can skip a mandatory three-day quarantine, though they need to remain on the island for four days.
“I think it’s good for the island,” said Jesse Rayman, 22, a Dutch tourist arriving at Bali’s airport on Monday. “I hope everyone is able to travel safely in the future, and coronavirus wouldn’t be such an issue anymore.”
With tourism normally making up over 50% of Bali’s economy, many on the island have been desperate to see a faster return of tourists, particularly as some neighbouring countries moved faster.
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Source: Reuters
