Tourist Visits Start To Restore, Economic Growth In Bali Can Capai 4.6 Percent

Head of the Bali Province KPWBI Trisno Nugroho. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

MATARAM - The Bali Province Bank Indonesia Representative Office (KPwBI) predicts that economic growth on the Island of the Gods for the whole of 2022 will be in the range of 3.8-4.6 percent (yoy).

"This is in line with the recovery of foreign tourist arrivals and Indonesian tourists amid the momentum of economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Bali Province KPWBI Head Trisno Nugroho at the Media Gathering event in Mataram, as reported by Antara, Friday, September 30.

In the second quarter of 2022, Bali's economic growth grew by 3.04 percent (yoy), an increase from the previous quarter which grew 1.46 percent (yoy).

According to him, Bali's economic performance in the second quarter of 2022 was mainly supported by increased transportation, accommodation for eating and drinking, and construction in line with improving tourism performance.

"The 2022 Bali Tourism will continue to improve in line with the implementation of a number of international events, easing travel policies, and increasing the number of international airlines operating direct flights to Bali, especially since March 2022," he said.

Although there has been an increase in foreign tourist visits, it has not matched the number of foreign tourists visiting before the COVID-19 pandemic, which in a year reaches 6.2 million people. The visit of foreign tourists from Bali Province until the end of 2022 is predicted to be 1.2-1.3 million people.

As is the case with the arrival of tourists from the Indian market whose position is number two after Australia is still down and his visit cannot be normal. Moreover, there have been no direct flights from a number of countries to Bali, including India.

Likewise, hotel occupancy rates in Bali are still low, especially since foreign tourists have not been able to return to normal for a long time. Although the occupancy rate for hotels in the Nusa Dua area, Badung Regency, is already high because it is the venue for various international conferences.

"Bali tourism is not only Nusa Dua. In the future, in addition to tourism, the government should also continue to oversee the potential of the agricultural sector. Thus, when something happens, the Balinese economy can survive, and not only rely on the tourism sector," he said.

Trisno added that Bali tourism should be developed digitally with the concept of a green economy so that Bali remains a haven for tourists. Especially now that the trend is "digital" which can work from anywhere.

"We will also continue to encourage institutional or corporate activities to be held in Bali because Bali still needs it. Their expenditure (spending) is also greater than tourists who come personally just for vacations," he said.

Deputy Director of the Bali Province Bank Indonesia Regional Representative Office Donny H Heatubun added that although Bali tourism has not fully recovered and Bali's inflation in August 2022 is quite high, it is 6.38 percent, everyone should remain optimistic.

"We must remain optimistic and that is the most important thing, because with Bali's negative economic growth for two years (2020-2021), we have succeeded positively in 2022," he said.

Bali with the wealth of natural beauty and supported by various resources, Bali must be able to recover its economy.

"However, we cannot just rely on Bali, it is beautiful, but it must be supported by tourism infrastructure which allows tourists to stay in Bali longer, as is currently being built in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Health in Sanur," he said.

In addition to the need for more international campuses in Bali, the Island of the Gods is also an educational destination.

On the occasion of the media gathering, the material presentation regarding the Love, Proud and Rupiah Movement was also filled by Alex Iskandar as the Staff/Assistant for Perkalan Penyeliaan KPwBI NTB Province.