Association ‘not sure how Bali can survive’ with ban on foreign tourists

A woman walks along Kuta Beach in Bali on Aug. 15, during a downturn in tourism following the outbreak of COVID-19. (AFP/Sonny Tumbelaka)

JAKARTA — The decision to postpone a plan to reopen Bali to foreign tourists was not an easy one, a spokesperson of the Bali Hotel General Managers Association (IHGMA) has said.

“We’re not sure how the Bali tourism industry can survive until early 2021 with the addition of four to five months [of closure],” IHGMA deputy chairman I Made Ramia Adnyana told kompas.com on Wednesday.

“The reopening of tourism to local residents on July 9 and domestic tourists on July 31 has not had a significant effect on increasing hotel occupancy in Bali,” Made said.

For example, he said around 4,900 tourists visited Bali last weekend, barely filling the island’s more than 130,000 hotel rooms.

Made expressed hope about ministries and state-owned enterprises holding meetings, activities and national-level events in Bali in the near future to help boost tourism.

“It is the most suitable solution to help Bali survive until early 2021,” he said.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster announced on Aug. 22 the postponement of plans to reopen Bali to international tourists on Sept. 11 as the government is still prohibiting its citizens from traveling abroad at least until the end of 2020.

According to official data from Saturday afternoon, Bali recorded 4,901 positive cases of COVID-19 with 4,260 recoveries and 60 deaths.