International Direct Flights Are Not Enough To Get Bali Up, Tourism Actors Ask For Applying Visa Free

ILLUSTRATION/ Singapore Airlines passengers landing at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport/DOK DAFI VOI

BADUNG - Tourism actors in Bali assess that direct international flights to the Island of the Gods have not had a significant impact on tourism conditions.

President Director of Indonesia Impression Tour Wayan Suena said direct international flights to Bali would be in vain if there was no free Visa on Arrival (VoA)

"What the Balinese people must demand from the central government is not only direct international flights but must be accompanied by the reinstatement of free visas on arrival and a reduction in the value of insurance claims owned by tourists in addition to exemption from quarantine when entering Bali," said Suena, Thursday, February 17.

According to Suena, as long as tourists have a vaccine certificate and are free of COVID-19 by international travel standards, they do not need to undergo quarantine.

"I am sure it will attract tourists back to Bali in the short term. If this is ignored by the central government, more and more Balinese people's assets engaged in the tourism industry will be owned by non-Balinese people," he said.

Currently, Singapore Airlines planes have made direct flights from Singapore to Bali. Prior to Singapore Airlines, on February 3 last, Garuda Indonesia also flew direct from Narita, Japan to Bali. This airline carries 12 passengers.

"We hope that there will be more flights to Bali in the future while maintaining health protocols," said Bali Governor Wayan Koster.