The Bali Provincial Government says it wants to turn its focus on reaping the rewards from an influx of domestic tourists for the Christmas and New Year break, after international tourists continue to shun the holiday island.
Related — Only 45 foreign tourists visited Bali in 2021
Bali Governor I Wayan Koster yesterday called on the provincial government and tourism players to momentarily put aside efforts to revive the island’s international tourism potential for what is unfolding right in front of them — specifically, an average of 25,000 tourists arriving from other parts of Indonesia per day.
“Our domestic tourism market is huge. They’re more loyal, even. Don’t focus on international tourists,” Koster said.
In the first two weeks of December, an official said around 10,000 Indonesian travelers touched down in Bali per day. That number has risen to around 13,000 per day more recently as we move closer to Christmas, Koster said, with as many driving to Bali from Java each day via the island’s ports.
With many domestic flights to Bali fully booked during the holiday season, Koster said he has appealed to the government via Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno to allow more flights into the island.
“When the [pandemic] situation is better, [international tourists] will come without an invitation,” he said.
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