Increase in Visitor Arrivals Brings Hope to Bali

ISTIMEWA/HUMAS PT ANGKASA PURA I (PERSERO)

The atmosphere of the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport terminal, Badung, Bali, some time ago.

DENPASAR, KOMPAS — The number of domestic and foreign tourist arrivals is continuing to rise. Although it is still far from the conditions before the pandemic, the current condition has sparked hope that the wheels of the tourism economy is rolling.

According to data from state-owned Angkasa Pura Aiports, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar Bali, experienced the third highest increase in domestic flights after Adisutjipto International Airport in Yogyakarta and El Tari International Airport in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. On 8-14 March, I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport served 118,319 passengers, a 28 percent increase compared to 91,789 passengers the previous week.

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A positive trend has been also seen on international routes. Since reopening to international flights on 3 Feb., I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport has seen the number of international arrivals reach 8,770 people on 142 aircraft up to 14 March 2022. Until now, seven airlines have been operating international routes at Ngurah Rai.

"The continued increase in the number of airlines serving international routes at I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport is expected to support economic recovery and Bali’s tourism industry in a sustainable manner," Angkasa Pura Airports president director Faik Fahmi said in a statement last week.

The increasing number of visitors to Bali was confirmed by the high demand for air tickets in a number of regions, especially after travel restrictions were eased.

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

Tourism activities are starting to get excited in the Kuta Beach area, Badung Regency, Bali.

As a result, ticket prices have doubled compared to prices during the pandemic. Many tickets for flights from Jakarta, Semarang and Yogyakarta to Bali on Saturday (19/3/2022), for example, were still available on Thursday (17/3), with ticket prices ranging from Rp 1.1 million to Rp 1.6 million.

Tickets were fully booked by Friday evening.

When booking tickets on Friday afternoon (18/3), there were fewer choices of airlines and flight times for Saturday departures. Prices had also increasedto between Rp. 1.3 million and Rp. 2.1 million. Tickets were fully booked by Friday evening.

According to Bali chairman I Putu Winastra of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Companies (Asita) on Monday (21/3), the ticket prices for flights to Bali had increased because only a few flights were serving the route, while consumer demand for flights to Bali was increasing.

"The number of scheduled flights have not had much impact on ticket prices to Bali at this time. Maybe later, when [their number] starts to increase, prices will return to normal,” said Winastra.

Positive sign

Angkasa Pura Airports data showed an increasing trend in passenger traffic at 15 airports after the issuance of Transportation Ministry Circular No. 21/2022 on easing travel restrictions starting on 8 March 2022.

On 8-14 March, airports operated by Angkasa Pura Airports served 761,234 passengers, up 20 percent compared to 1-7 March, when 631,271 passengers were served.

KOMPAS/BENNY DWI KOESTANTO

A number of foreign tourists pass through the shopping center area of Kuta Square, Kuta, Badung, Bali.

Meanwhile, airport traffic also increased 9 percent to 7,208 aircraft movements. Previously on 1-7 March, airports managed by Angkasa Pura Airports recorded 6,610 aircraft movements.

Faik explained that the increase in passengers and domestic aircraft movements after the latest travel regulation was implemented was a positive sign that the aviation and tourism industry was reviving slowly.

"This is also an indication of the return of public confidence in air travel, with easier and more convenient travel requirements," said Faik.

Flights to Bali, which had sold well, also had an impact on the rental vehicle segment. I Gusti Ketut Merta (71), owner of a rental motorcycle business in Kuta, Badung regency, had started to received many orders, especially from domestic tourists.

“Now, around four to five motorbikes are rented a day. This is just starting again, moreover there is the MotoGP [in Lombok]. There are [racing] spectators who transit here. Then, events like the G20 and officials who like to come here for vacation have an impact on the Balinese people," he said.

He saw a glimmer of hope. With the improved handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the reopening of tourism activities, he hoped that tourists, especially foreign tourists, who generally stayed longer than local tourists, would return to Bali.

They can come here quarantine-free as long as they are fully vaccinated and have gotten a booster.

“There used to be a lot of foreign tourists. They rent motorbikes for at least two weeks. Now, the income is still [small], but foreign tourists are here again. They can come here quarantine-free as long as they are fully vaccinated and have gotten a booster," he continued.

Priya Ardi Wibowo (28), a taxi driver, also saw that tourists were starting to return to Bali. He had been called back to work in October 2021 after being furloughed for six months in his hometown in Nganjuk, East Java.

"At the peak of the pandemic, there were absolutely zero trips per day. Since the intensive vaccination drive, it has been pretty good, on average I have four to five trips. Now, it could be up to seven trips a day, since foreign tourists are exempted from antigen test requirements and quarantine," said Priya. (XTI/ERK)

(This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswo)