Bali will reopen to foreign visitors, according to Indonesia

Officials on Indonesia's holiday island of Bali said on Monday (Jan 31) that it will begin inviting visitors from all countries later this week, more than three months after stating it was only available to certain nationalities.

Despite the fact that Bali officially opened to travellers from China, New Zealand, and Japan in mid-October, there have been no direct flights since, according to tourism minister Sandiaga Uno.

Thailand and the Philippines made similar declarations in December, putting quarantine waivers on hold due to initial concerns regarding vaccination efficacy against the Omicron strain of COVID-19.

Amid having gotten outbreaks under control in the second half of last year, the decision comes despite a persistent uptick in COVID-19 cases in Indonesia this month.
The growth has been attributed to Omicron by health officials.

Bali, which is known for its surfing, temples, waterfalls, and nightlife, had 6.2 million international tourists in 2019, the year before COVID-19 struck, but strong pandemic border controls wreaked havoc on tourism, which accounts for 54 percent of the economy.

Singapore Airlines announced on Friday that flights to Bali from Singapore will resume on February 16.

International tourists who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 would still be obliged to spend five to seven days in quarantine, according to senior minister Luhut Pandjaitan.

Indonesian visitors were allowed to visit two islands near Singapore last week.

The island has been receiving foreign visitors via the capital Jakarta in recent months, according to Ida Ayu Indah Yustikarini of the Bali Government Tourism Office, although no official data are available.