Dispar Bali Will Develop Digital Nomad Tourism On The Island Of The Gods

DENPASAR - Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, I Putu Astawa, confirmed that he will develop digital nomad tourism on the Island of the Gods.

According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided many lessons in various sectors including tourism. The pandemic has also introduced people to digital life.

"So far, Bali tourism only relies on leisure tourists. Then we develop MICE tourism. Currently the two potentials cannot work because of the COVID-19 pandemic, prohibiting large crowds, prohibiting people from traveling. Therefore, it is one of the potential tourists. What needs attention is the "Digital Nomad," said Astawa, while monitoring the Digital Nomad at the Bali Coworking Dojo, Canggu, North Kuta, Badung, Bali, Thursday, May 27.

Astawa said, Bali will seriously handle this Digital Nomad tourism. Therefore, a lot of information is needed related to the activities of Digital Nomads in Bali.

"So in order to gather information, my entourage and I monitored and extracted information from the owner of the Bali Coworking Dojo, Michael Craig, so that in the future policies related to these Digital Nomads can be made," he said.

Meanwhile, Michael Craig, a foreigner from Australia who has been in Bali for almost 10 years, said that Digital Nomad has a very good potential to be developed in Bali.

According to him, Digital Nomad was followed by middle to upper class people. They live in Bali for a long period of at least a year.

"So, a long period of stay will have an impact on the economy of the people in Bali from accommodation, food and drink and other necessities," he said.

Craig said, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bali was the safest place for digital nomads to live and work.

"With the development of Digital Nomad tourism, it will also have an impact on government revenue from the tax sector," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of PHRI Badung Regency, IGAN Rai Suryawijaya, is also very supportive of tourism development in this sector.

The presence of these tourists will also provide opportunities for community accommodations such as homestays, villas and other community-owned accommodation.

"Of course this needs special attention from the government. Therefore it is necessary to create a Focus Group Discussion to provide integration to the government regarding the policies that must be issued later," he said.