Seeing The Condition Of Kartika Plaza Kuta Bali, Previously Crowded With Tourists, Now Quiet

BADUNG - The opening of international flights to 19 countries has not directly affected the level of visits by foreign tourists or foreign tourists. Bali is still quiet.

This condition is illustrated on Jalan Kartika Plaza, Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali. It has been a long time, since the COVID-19 pandemic entered Indonesia in March 2020, foreign tourists have gradually declined.

Along Kartika Plaza Kuta, many of the Art Shop kiosks, restaurants, spas and hotels are still not operating. You can count on the fingers, the places that are open, but there are no visitors.

This condition is felt by Sumiati (50), an Art Shop employee named Made Wati Shop on Jalan Kartika Plaza. Tourists are indeed quiet, visitors who shop at the art shop where he works are only one or two people.

"Sometimes I get 50 thousand rupiah. It's very quiet here and it's open every day, yes sometimes there are local guests from Jakarta," said Sumiati, Friday, October 15.

Jalan Kartika Plaza Kuta used to be before COVID-19 'attacked' was very popular for foreign tourists. When tracing this road, many foreign and local tourists flocked back and forth because this area is very strategic to get to Kuta Beach.

But the situation changed. Instantly everything disappeared and became silent. Only online motorcycle taxi drivers and food and beverage vendors are seen on the side of the road.

This condition does not eliminate the hope of Ketut Milet, a motorbike renter on Jalan Kartika Plaza.

Milet parked about five motorbikes and didn't forget to put up the words "Car & Bike For Rent," in the hope that foreign and local tourists would want to rent it.

"There are no tourists and local guests going to this route yet. But he said local guests have started to get busy," said Milet.

Milet's hopes grew upon hearing the opening of direct international flights to Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport. The central government allows citizens of 19 countries to visit Bali.

"In the past, before the pandemic, it was Rp. 50 thousand per day, the price for renting a motorbike was Rp. 40,000. No one wants it. There are no guests," said the man from Data Village, Abang District, Karangasem Regency, Bali.

Milet, who has been working as a motorbike renter for 15 years, has to swerve to meet the necessities of life. He did odd jobs as a construction worker.

"Because I don't have other work, and I stay at home I feel dizzy. I sometimes work odd jobs, work as a construction worker. If I don't have friends (inviting) construction work, I come here again. I do whatever work is important to produce," he said.

Even because of the pandemic, Milet has returned 8 motorbikes that he used to credit. The reason is that they are no longer able to write installments.

Therefore, Milet hopes that Bali's conditions will recover as before the COVID-19 hit.

"Hurry up, tourism will recover as it used to be," said Milet at the side of the road.