Travel agents in Bali are fighting to secure great-value travel deals and ensure their longevity as a service provider in the region.
Travel trends are moving increasingly towards independent booking, and as it becomes ever more accessible for tourists to organize their vacations and travels independently, travel agents are fighting to stay relevant.
The Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies in Bali (ASITA) has held a meeting to discuss the future of travel agents and tour operators on the island.
One of ASITA’s main focuses moving forward will be working with tourist attractions, both private and government-managed, to help secure discount entry tickets for tourists.
The Chairman of ASITA Bali, Putu Winastra, explained to the press, “Tourism attractions in Bali are managed by many parties; some are private, some are traditional villages, and there are [those managed by] the government.”
“So far, the entry ticket prices are all the same, yet when our members can bring in 10,000 tourists, the price is the same for those who come once and bring one person.”
This is one of the main gripes ASITA has with the Bali tourism sector at the moment. With over 300 members, all travel agents and tour operators who abide by the regional regulations feel they should receive some benefits from holding industry standards.
There are concerns that independent travel agents and tour operators, not part of ASITA, can get away with not abiding by regional regulations, potentially letting tourists down and damaging the public image of the sector.
Winastra explained “later we will bring the results of the working meeting as input to the Bali Provincial Government through the tourism office, for example if one tourism attraction ticket costs IDR 100,000 we will get at least ten percent [off].”
The next most pressing issue for ASITA that will also directly impact tourists is the development of a dedicated pick-up area at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, for large tour groups.
This would help make the situation in the pickup area way less chaotic both for tour groups and independent travelers.
Winastra told the press, “We are fighting for there to be a special zone that may be prepared to place a pick-up place so that we can already see tourist handled by travel agencies…[so that the pick-up area] is not like a screaming bus station.”
ASITA acknowledged that there is not as much need for travel agents in 2024 as there was in the 1990s when the biggest wave of mass tourism development occurred in Bali.
Yet, by the association’s calculations as many as 50% of Bali’s over 6 million annual tourists still rely on a booking agent in one way to another. They feel more support is needed from the sector so that travel agents can best serve this huge section of the market.
Winastra concluded succinctly, “we are very interested in fighting for this because when travel agencies are not fought for, we will be displaced.”
Earlier this week, all eyes were on the Indonesian tourism industry as the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno attended the UN to speak at the UN General Assembly Sustainability Week in New York.
Minister Uno explained, “It is hoped that our presence in this forum will further strengthen Indonesia as a tourist destination that really cares about climate change issues and issues related to welfare and sustainable development goals.”
He told the UN Assembly “We believe that Indonesia has unique and interesting tourist destinations, not only Bali, but also the five Super Priority Tourism Destinations (DPSP) which we are developing in total. We see this as a journey that will really determine how Indonesia will become the country of choice for tourists.”
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Anyone
Sunday 21st of April 2024
Well, it´s the time to learn from our previous experience that local people always think that tourists have lots of money, no more and no way!!! Individual traveller prefer to travel freely and flexible so they don´t need tours organised anymore. Nowadays the technology won. Tourists will manage any bookings online without take out their money phisically from their pocket.
Exp
Monday 22nd of April 2024
@Anyone, The locals are not loosing out: The Balinese are setting up "toll plaza" everywhere to empty tourist/foreigner wallets: - fee for entering Bali (tourist tax) - fee for access to many beaches - fee for access to many waterfalls - fee for access to mountains - fee for viewing temples from afar (temple access not allowed) - fee for entering the ocean (already Nusa Penida) - fee for parking almost everywhere - fee for driving through scenic area (already Kintamani) - fee for viewing sunsets / scenic views (already many places) - fee for photos and use of drones - fee for mandatory guides - fee to retrieve goods stolen by monkeys - etc etc
The greed is starting to be a bit tiresome. Visitors can no longer walk around or sit down and enjoy peace and quiet.
Hns
Saturday 20th of April 2024
As I see it, the tourists agents have overplayed their hand and now the have a huge very huge problem. Tourists nowadays are no longer a bag of money and don’t let themselves squeeze until the last rupiah. It will only take a few years and the tourists agents themselves are without income, so let it happen!!
Shorty
Monday 22nd of April 2024
@Hns,
Also realise many higher starred hotels have dedicated taxi holding areas. You must be accredited to be there. Most of the drivers have tour guide accreditation. Many have multiple by becoming proficient in many foreign languages.
Shorty
Monday 22nd of April 2024
@Hns,
Perhaps there's other more influencing factors.
You want to do a tour. Your pick up the brochures at the desk or go online. Most will then ask hotel staff, taxi drivers, waiters, other guests... All will have connection to those tour guiding.
The prices in the main will be cheaper, itineraries more flexible and the experience more personable.
Social media comment and recommendation. Overwhelmingly favours the independant, and will be complimentary. You'll rarely or ever see '...' is an A***le.
Shorty
Sunday 21st of April 2024
@Hns, Yes that's a factor. The reality is there's too many of them for the demand. Don't support or subsidise them. Let market forces sort it out. The smart and efficient ones will operate profitably and .survive
Shorty
Saturday 20th of April 2024
They have to accept their trading base is diminishing. Why should they get subsidised?
Does your favourite warung makan or bakso cart get a discount when the price of beras or cabe goes up?
Many build their business around price rather than value. It's a common Balinese trait. Price rather than value.
So some fold. So what. There's a market for them. But there's too many.
Those successful will adjust their operating costs, and be able to absorb increases on entry fees, wages, fuel.... There's tourists who prefer organised tour operators.
Shorty
Saturday 20th of April 2024
Why?
If they want to be competitive look at the add on areas like transport, lunch.....where small cuts would give more than a token 10% off entry fees.