Bali to Exceed 2 Million Foreign Visitors in 2009?

(9/19/2009)

Bali's arrival numbers continue to ignore declining travel patterns in much of the world, setting new heights each month.

Looking at foreign tourist arrivals to Bali through the end of July 2009, here are the main highlights:

• June 2009 arrivals totaled 190,617 or 11.5% better than the record breaking performance of June 2008.

• July 2009 arrivals hit an astounding 224,636 – that's a whole 22.7% ahead of the same month one year before.

• January – July 2009 arrivals totaled 1,242,297 – an improvement of 11.87% year on year with 2008.

• If Bali can maintain the current 11.87% rate of growth through the end of 2009, total arrivals for the current year will easily surpass 2 million visitors for the first time in history, ending with 2.2 million foreign visitors.

• Australia is now firmly in possession of the #1 post as the largest source of foreign visitors to Bali, displacing Japan from the top ranking it's held for decades. Australia arrivals through the end of July totaled 227,402 as compared to Japan's 186,029 for the same period. By extension, Australia arrivals through the end of July were up 38.07%, while Japanese arrivals are down 10.78%.

• The People's Republic of China is now the 3rd largest source of visitors to Bali, increasing 61.09% to 116,806 for the first seven months of the year ending in July. This strong growth has moved the PRC up two places from its former rank at #5,

• Malaysia arrivals increased year-on-year by 21.66% through the end of July at 83,809 visitors. It remains to be seen if the current cross-border spitting match will be reflected in August and September arrivals to Bali ex Malaysia. Malaysian arrivals now hold the 4th ranking, up from 6th last year.

• South Korean arrivals decreased year-on-year by 5.96% for January-July 2009 at 74,055 securing the 5th ranking in terms of main source markets for Bali tourism.

• Taiwan arrivals have taken a beating in 2009, decreasing 18.44% for January – July to total 69,363. Taiwan, which once was the third largest contributor of visitors to Bali, has slipped to the number six ranking.

• While Europe in general struggles with its economies, the French market is proving very robust for Bali tourism, increasing 50.99% in the first seven months of 2009, totaling 59.488.

• Market shares for Bali tourism at the end of July 2009: Asia Pacific 57.89%; ASEAN 19.97%, Europe 25.44%; the Americas 5.02%; Africa 0.5% and the Middle East 0.18%. The Asia-Pacific including ASEAN constitutes 77.86% of all Bali's foreign tourism arrivals.