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Tourism on Indonesia’s most popular holiday island Bali has been ailing since coronavirus hit more than two years ago, with figures still not back at pre-pandemic levels.
“I still have almost no customers,” Wayan Maja, who runs a travel agency in the beach resort of Sanur, said.
Like many in the industry, he now hopes that the summit of the Group of 20 (G20) leading industrialised and emerging countries scheduled to be held on the island in November will bring a much needed turnaround.
While many locals found that things started to look a little brighter in July and August, hopes of recovery were soon slashed by an unusually rainy month of October.
Russia’s war on Ukraine as well as China’s strict zero-Covid policy with most of the country’s borders still shut down are also having an effect on the number of travellers arriving in Bali.
Bali’s back – but so are the ‘trashy tourists’
As before the pandemic, the majority of international visitors come from Australia.
Many of the island’s most popular destinations, including Sanur’s boardwalk, are currently deserted. Cafes are mostly empty, except for waiters longing for customers.
Things aren’t looking much better in the yoga paradise of Ubud some 25 kilometres north of the beach resort, with only a handful of tourists strolling past the stalls of the once crowded Poppies Lane II to look at souvenirs and clothes.
“I often sell only one item a day, sometimes nothing at all,” says one shopkeeper.
All eyes will now be on the G20 summit set to take place from November 15 to 16 in Nusa Dua in the south of the island, with leading politicians from around the world expected to attend.
“This will hopefully make Bali the talk of the town again”, says Wayan Maja. “It’s good publicity for the island”.


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Bali’s ailing tourism industry looks to G20 summit for boost

Many of Bali’s most popular destinations are currently deserted. Photo: EPA-EFE

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A beach in Sanur, Bali. Photo: Shutterstock


Foreign travellers are welcomed at Bali’s airport on Monday, the first day of quarantine-free entry for international passengers. Photo: EPA

A beach in Sanur, Bali. Photo: Shutterstock

Australian Summa Durie has lived in the town of Ubud on Bali for more than 10 years. Photo: Roberto Aria Putra

Lucia Tara Aricia Gress, a 28-year-old freelance writer from Germany, has called Bali home since May last year. Photo: Handout

Bali is open again but visa-on-arrival costs, ‘typically Indonesian’ confusion and multiple tests delay the recovery of tourism

Tourists on Canggu Beach, Bali, Indonesia on March 12, 2022. The current requirements for foreign travellers to Bali have been criticised for being too much. Photo: Getty Images

Foreign travellers arrive at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia on March 7, 2022. Photo: Getty Images

Tourists at Canggu Beach, Bali, Indonesia on March 12, 2022. Tourists must spend the first three nights and four days of their holiday in Bali at a CHSE-certified hotel. Photo: Getty Images

Tourists at Seminyak Beach, Bali, Indonesia on March 12, 2022. Photo: Getty Images

Canggu Beach on March 12, 2022. Photo: Getty Images

Bali welcomes first international flight in two years as island opens to tourists from all countries

Bali has re-opened to foreign tourists and welcomed its first international flight in two years on February 16. Photo: Xinhua

A nearly empty beach in Kuta, Bali. The Indonesian holiday island began a tentative reopening to foreign tourists on February 16. Photo: EPA

Travellers walk through the international arrivals hall at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali. Photo: AFP

Officials spray disinfectant at a neighbourhood in Denpasar, Bali. Indonesia reported a record number of new coronavirus cases on February 15. Photo: EPA

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Russia’s war on Ukraine, China’s strict zero-Covid policy and many borders still shut down are having an effect on the number of travellers arriving in Bali
Hopes are pinned on the G20 summit, taking place from November 15 to 16 in Nusa Dua in the south of the island, which will be attended by world leaders



Russia’s war on Ukraine, China’s strict zero-Covid policy and many borders still shut down are having an effect on the number of travellers arriving in the Indonesian tourist destination.
