After a six-month shutdown caused by the global pandemic, Bali’s tourism industry is starting to show renewed life signs.
As Kompas.com reports, one “vital sign” of progress in restoring the Island’s tourism is seen in the number of tourists landing at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport. The man in charge of the Badung Regency Tourism Office, Cok Raka Darmawan, reports that for August 2020 there were around 2,500 to 3,000 domestic tourists arriving each day in Bali by plane. “Since 01 August, after Bali reopened for domestic tourism on 31 July 2020, the number of visitors to Bali averaged between 2,500 and 3,000 people each day during August,” said Raka during a webinar held on Friday, 04 September 2020.
The Badung Regency Tourism Chief admitted, however, that the current tourist flows are still low when compared to August in previous years. For instance, in August 2019, 13,000 to 15,000 domestic tourists were arriving each day. “But, now there are 2,500 to 3,000 tourists arriving each day in August 2020, representing a decline of 81%,” Raka commented.
For now, all efforts to increase tourism arrivals in Bali remain solely focused on domestic tourism, with the Island and the Nation still unprepared to fix a firm date for the restart of international tourism to Bali. Initially, 11 September 2020 was selected to reopen international tourism, a date that was eventually postponed indefinitely due to the developing COVID-19 global situation.
Bali’s provisional and regional governments are implementing a certification system for tourism businesses affirming conformance with a national system of Cleanliness, Heath, and Safety (CHS) protocols to build public faith in Bali as a destination.
“Everyone business needs to be verified to convince the public that all standard operating procedures (SOP) for good health have been fulfilled,” said Raka.
Within the Badung Regency, 12 tourism destinations have been certified as ready for visitors in the “new era” of living with a pandemic. The 12 Badung destinations are Pandawa Beach, Water Blow ITDC Nusa Dua, Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, Kuta Beach, True Bali Experience, Pod Chocolate Factory, Pura Taman Ayun, the Uluwatu Temple, Beachwalk Mall, Quad Adventure Pertiwi, Alas Pala Sangeh, and Alam Tirta Outbound.
