Wow... How Fun It Is to Return to Bali

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO (KUM)

A number of tourists enjoy the atmosphere of Kuta Beach, Bali, ahead of sunset, Monday (11/10/2021).

Thanks to the easing of travel rules, French siblings Manon and Theo were able to release their longing to visiting Bali. Residents' hospitality, religious and cultural ceremonies and the beautiful nature of Bali welcome the return of the tourists.

The park around Tanah Lot Temple in Beraban village, Kediri district, Tabanan Regency, Bali, looked vibrant on Sunday (20/3/2022). That afternoon, local residents, the majority of whom were middle-aged women, attended a religious ceremony at the temple. The women dressed in white batik cloth, with senteng (green shawls) tied around their waists and baskets of offerings on their heads, flocked to walk toward the temple.

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The combination of the natural beauty and culture of Balinese Hindus is always on the mind of tourists who miss Bali. No wonder visitors from all over the world repeatedly visit Bali and always want to return.

Like that afternoon, for example, the cloudy skies and rain did not stop tourists from coming and roaming the area, which is about 30 kilometers from Denpasar. They came in groups using tourist buses or by cars and motorbikes, both private and rental.

Cellphone cameras did not stop capturing the nature around Tanah Lot. Tourists were not bored of taking selfies. There were also people renting photography services around the location. After a long time experiencing a "famine" during the tightening of community movement to control the Covid-19 pandemic, the return of tourists has brought these photographers good luck.

The two of them had filled their winter holidays by exploring Southeast Asia and closed their journey in Bali.

"I have visited Bali three times, but this is the first time [to Tanah Lot]," said Manon. The young woman, who said she had recently finished her undergraduate studies with her sibling, Theo, returned to Bali after learning there was no more quarantine obligation if having a complete Covid-19 vaccination. The two of them had filled their winter holidays by exploring Southeast Asia and closed their journey in Bali.

"Every place feels magical (in Bali)," said Theo, who still wanted to explore many places around the island. Another foreign tourist from South Korea, Adam Lee, along with two friends from Indonesia, traveled to Tanah Lot to see the steep coastal cliffs where there were caves with holy snakes inside.

Local tourists were no less enthusiastic to return to Bali. Setyoningsih, 55, a vocational high school teacher from Lumajang, East Java, for example, departed with around 120 students and teachers from her workplace. They would stay two nights in Bali.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO (KUM)

Traders peddle their wares at Kuta Beach, Bali, Monday (11/10/2021).

"It's been two years we've not traveled because of the pandemic. We are just daring to travel again after all the students and teachers have been vaccinated with the third dose. Not a bad way to enable the children, who were for all this time studying online, to refresh,” said Setyoningsih.

Based on the operational management records of Tanah Lot, so far 30,937 tourists had visited in 2022. Of these, most arrived in March, making up 24,692 people.

"Since the abolition of the Covid-19 test requirements, the number of visits to Tanah Lot has increased from 300-500 people per day to 1,500-2,000 people per day. On average the local tourists came from West Java, Central Java and East Java. The foreign tourists came from Russia and Malaysia," said the head of the Promotions Division and Development of Tanah Lot, Ni Made Siartini.

Tourists have started to flock to many areas in Bali again. Their presence can be seen in Legian and around Kuta Beach in Kuta district, Badung regency. Even though it is still not as hectic as before the pandemic, traffic jams and traffic density occasionally occur again on the narrow streets and one-lane roads.

The island, in Klungkung regency, has become a new hotspot in Bali.

A similar situation is taking place in the central area of Ubud in Ubud district, Gianyar regency. In Southwest Bali, tourists have flocked to cross by speedboats to Nusa Penida. The island, in Klungkung regency, has become a new hotspot in Bali.

On Wednesday (23/3), the majority of domestic tourists were there for a day trip. One point of departure was a port on Sanur Beach.

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By speedboat, tourists can get to Nusa Penida in 45 minutes. The day tour package cost ranges from Rp 250,000 (US$17.41) to Rp 750,000 per person, depending on the number of people on the tour booking. On the island tourists travel by car to several tourist spots, such Kelingking Beach, Diamond Beach and Paluang Cliff. These places offer deep blue sea views and tanjung (rocky outcrops) that spoil the eyes.

Snorkeling lovers can enjoy Crystal Bay and Manta Points, which offer the beauty of coral reefs and sea animals, such as turtles and manta stingrays.

"In 2019, the number of tourists could reach 15,000 people a day," said I Komang Widyasa Putra, the head of Nusa Penida, on Thursday (24/3). After two years of quiet, the number of tourists to Nusa Penida has begun to rise again and now averages 4,000 people per day.

Domino effect

The online travel agent platform, Traveloka, noted that searches and flight ticket reservations to Bali began to increase in September 2021. In 2022, the increase was again seen along with the launching of the MotoGP in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara, and the government easing the policy for travel requirements.

"The most popular types of accommodation are hotels, resorts and villas for vacation to workcation," said Shirley Lesmana, Traveloka chief marketing officer.

ISTIMEWA/HUMAS PT ANGKASA PURA I BANDARA I GUSTI NGURAH RAI

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

Tourists to Bali also buy other recreational tickets, such as flora and fauna parks, cultural performances, spas and Covid-19 tests. Based on data, the purchase of tickets was the highest in the regions of Kuta, Gianyar and Badung. As for tickets for accommodation, most were in Kuta, Badung and Denpasar.

Along with the upward trend in accommodation searches in Bali, there is also an increase in consumer interest in Clean Accommodation certificates and Covid-19 tests for travel.

"This shows changes in consumer behavior, which is more vigilant and with a preference for accommodation that follows health protocols," she said.

Without forgetting to obey the health protocols, visiting Bali is indeed more fun.

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).