Bali to reopen to tourists from September 11

Bali, the Indonesian tourism hotspot, will reopen its borders to international tourists from September 11. Terming it “New Era of Life Order Protocol”, Bali will roll out a three-phased plan to restore the island’s economy, which begins this week.

From July 9, the local administration will allow some businesses to operate. These include health services, fishing, restaurants, modern markets and finance. Tourism activities begin in phase 2 from July 31, when Indonesians will be allowed to visit. The final and third phase, when the island opens to international visitors, will start from 11 September.

However, it is yet to release details on whether travellers from all countries will be allowed and whether quarantine or testing will be mandatory.

The tourism industry in Bali, the island’s main source of income, suffered massive losses due to months of travel restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The occupancy rate at popular hotels in Bali dropped to 2% in May, according to Bali statistics bureau, from 62.55% in December before the pandemic hit.

The island has reported around 1,850 COVID-19 cases and 20 deaths so far, while Indonesia has recorded more than 63,700 cases and 3,171 deaths since early March.