Let’s be honest: Even in Bali’s luxurious resorts, nobody really wants to be stuck inside their hotels for longer than they have to be.
Despite having been officially reopened to international tourists in October 2021, Bali Island, the bread and butter of Indonesia’s tourism industry, did not see any commercial international flights landing until February 2022, with Garuda Indonesia bringing in tourists from Japan and Singapore Airlines from Singapore.
Bali’s tourism sector has especially struggled since the island shut to international flights in March 2020. While restrictions have loosened, existing quarantine regulations have turned off foreign travelers from making the trip to the Island of the Gods, which is known for its surfing spots, temples, and nightclubs.
Under current regulations, fully vaccinated travelers to Bali are required to quarantine in designated hotels for five days. That may be shortened to three days for travelers who have received booster shots starting on March 1.
If you plan to travel to Bali and are worried that quarantine will bore you, fear not, as the provincial government recently launched an isolation scheme that would allow travelers out of their hotel rooms.
“International travelers can quarantine with either a ‘bubble’ or a ‘non-bubble’ system,” said Bali Vice Governor Tjok Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, popularly known as Cok Ace, yesterday.
Travelers who opt to enter the “bubble” system will be allowed to roam around the hotel to swim, exercising at the gym (yay!), and participating in hotel activities such as carving fruits.
Five hotels have been selected to host the “bubble” system, namely Grand Hyatt Nusa Dua (Nusa Dua), Westin Resort (Nusa Dua), Griya Santrian (Sanur), Viceroy (Ubud), and Royal Tulip (Jimbaran). Quarantine package prices range from IDR10 million-19 million (US$700–1,320) that cover three meals per day, laundry (five pieces of clothes), two PCR tests, and airport transportation, on top of access to hotel facilities.
Conversely, the “non-bubble” option entails staying inside the hotel room for the entire duration of the mandatory quarantine.
Separately, Syaiful Rabindra, the owner of PT. Gaya Bali, a travel operator based on the island, said that while he appreciated the government’s effort, he believes “bubble” quarantine is less exciting than what Bali outside of the hotel has to offer.
“Travelers will feel bored nevertheless. Hopefully, in the future, there will be no more quarantine because this is something that travelers do not like the most,” Syaiful told Coconuts Bali.
Syaiful’s hopes might come sooner rather than later. Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said on Monday that the government is reviewing a plan to erase quarantine requirements in Indonesia starting April.
“We are still studying [the plan] including creating its guidelines. If all goes well, hopefully by April [Indonesia] will be quarantine-free,” he said.
Fingers crossed!
