From October 14, visitors from 19 countries can visit Bali with the condition that they have to be vaccinated and quarantined for 5 days.
According to the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment, Lulut Binsar Panjaitan, the islands of Bali and Riau began to welcome guests from 19 countries from October 14, including China, India, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, UAE, New Zealand, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Liechtenstein, Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Hungary and Norway. These countries were selected by Indonesia based on low infection and mortality data.
Visitors from the above 19 countries can enter Bali and Riau as soon as they meet the requirements before and after departure. Accordingly, visitors need a visa, have had 2 injections at least 14 days before flying, have a Covid-19 insurance package worth from 100,000 USD and pay for their own accommodation for 5 days of isolation.
Customers queue at Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali on October 9. Photo: Reuters
According to Henky Hotma P. Manurung, crisis management specialist at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, one of the reasons for optimism about Bali's readiness is the vaccination rate in the island. achieved 99% of the 1st shot and 90% of the 2nd shot, based on Antara news reports.
Mr. Lihut added that the process of opening up to international visitors will be periodically evaluated and the above list of 19 countries only applies to direct flights to the two islands of Bali and Riau. He hopes the opening will boost the economy of Bali's tourism industry, as an estimated 54 percent of the island's revenue comes from the smokeless industry.
However, Taufan Yudhistira, representative of Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, said that on October 14, the first day of welcoming foreign guests back, there were still no direct flights from 19 countries. Due to the lack of direct flights, travelers may have to transit in Jakarta.
