BALI - The pressure on the rupiah, the turmoil on the exchange, and the heat of global geopolitical conflicts have not made Bali tourism lose its strength. Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Bambang Soesatyo or Bamsoet said the flow of foreign tourists to Bali is still running strong.
Bamsoet said the Iran-Israel conflict and the uncertainty of the world economy also pressured the financial market. The rupiah had moved in the range of Rp. 18,000 per US dollar. The stock exchange was also dragged down by global sentiment.
However, according to Bamsoet, Bali still shows resilience as Indonesia's main tourist destination.
"The world's geopolitical situation does raise concerns about various economic sectors. However, to date, Bali has shown extraordinary resilience," said Bamsoet in Bali, Monday, June 15, 2021.
He said foreign tourists still came because Bali was a world destination that was difficult to replace. The attraction of culture, nature, tourism services, and the tourism ecosystem makes Bali not easily shaken by market turmoil.
Bamsoet assessed that Bali's tourism business actors were trained to deal with crises. Bali has gone through financial crises, the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, to global economic pressures.
"We can see how Bali tourism business actors move quickly to read market changes. When one market slows down, they are able to shift focus to other markets that are growing," said Bamsoet.
According to the former Chairman of the MPR, the weakening of the rupiah also has another side for tourism. For foreign tourists, the cost of vacation in Indonesia is relatively cheaper. For business actors, every dollar spent by tourists generates more rupiah.
The impact can be felt on hotels, restaurants, tourist transportation, MSMEs, creative industries, to tourism workers. But the benefits still depend on inflation, security, and traveler comfort.
"As long as domestic inflation remains under control and national security stability can be maintained, the weakening of the rupiah can actually be a momentum to increase the competitiveness of Indonesian tourist destinations," said Bamsoet.
He asked the central and regional governments not to rely solely on Bali's big names. International promotion, flight connectivity, infrastructure, as well as environmental and cultural protection must still be strengthened.
Bamsoet assessed that global crises will always come and go. Therefore, the resilience of Bali tourism must be maintained not only through the number of visits, but also the quality of services and economic benefits for local communities.
"As long as Indonesia is able to maintain national stability, the security of tourist destinations, the quality of services, and the attractiveness of its distinctive culture, Bali will continue to be a world tourist attraction," said Bamsoet.
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