Governor Koster: Pelita Air Flights Improve Tourist Services To Bali

DENPASAR - Bali Governor Wayan Koster said the new Pelita Air flight from Jakarta to Bali would be able to increase service capacity for regular passengers and tourists to the Island of the Gods.

"This will play a very important role in improving the image of Bali's culture-based and quality-oriented tourism in an effort to accelerate tourism recovery," said Koster in a written statement quoted by Antara, Thursday, April 28.

Koster when receiving Pelita Air's inaugural flight at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport also expressed his gratitude to the Minister of SOEs, the Minister of Transportation and the President Director of Pertamina for the additional new flights.

"Currently there is momentum for the recovery of Bali's tourism, because since March 7, 2022, a new policy has been applied for foreign tourists, namely no quarantine and Visa on Arrival (VoA) facilities for 43 countries," he said.

Until now, continued Koster, there are already 11 airlines serving international flights to Bali, and Emirates will add more flights on May 1, 2022.

Meanwhile, the number of international flights to Bali from March 1 to 30, 2022 reached 123 aircraft, with a total of 17,250 foreign tourist passengers, with an average of 575 people per day.

Then from April 1 to 27, the number of international flights to Bali increased to 269 aircraft (an increase of 118 percent compared to March), with a total of 58,630 foreign tourist passengers (an increase of D240 percent compared to March).

With the number of foreign tourists visiting 58,630 people, the average daily visit is 2,171 people (an increase of 277 percent compared to March).

Meanwhile, the number of domestic flights to Bali from March 1 to 30 was 2,188 aircraft, with a total of 276,619 passengers or an average of 9,220 people per day.

However, the number of domestic flights to Bali from April 1 - 27, 2022 decreased to 1,669 aircraft, with a total of 194,910 passengers, an average of 7,218 people per day.

On the other hand, Koster ensured that the handling of COVID-19 could be carried out properly with the achievement of booster vaccination already above 60 percent and the addition of new cases ranging from 18-30 cases per day.

"Balinese people are very orderly in implementing health protocols, so Bali is very comfortable and safe to visit," he said.

President Director of PT Pelita Air Service, Dendy Kurniawan, who took part in Pelita Air's inaugural flight from Jakarta to Bali, expressed gratitude for the successful landing of Pelita Air's first commercial flight in Bali.

He also hopes that the flight can continue with more intense follow-up flights.

"We are also required to continue to provide new destinations, so that we can support what has been announced by the government, in realizing maximum air transportation connectivity," he said.

Pelita Air, which has been established for approximately 52 years, is known as an airline that has credibility and reputation in the charter sector or non-scheduled flights. Includes VVIP, including presidential services for the Vice President, ministries, and other Pelita Air clients.

"Based on that experience, we saw a market opportunity for national airlines, and ventured to enter a new segment for us, namely the commercial aviation segment," he said.