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Bali Assures Tourists That Proposed Visitor Quotas Will Increase Quality Of Travel Experiences

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The recent announcement by Bali’s Governor Koster that he proposes establishing a cap on the number of travelers allowed to enter the island has rocked the travel world.

While these big statements may first appear to cause panic for island lovers, there is little cause for concern right now.

Tourist Stands Overlooking Bali Rice Terrace.jpg

The proposed quotas, if enforced, would still allow millions of travelers to enter Bali every year. The idea behind the proposed travel quotas in Bali is to promote high-quality tourism, which officials say will have a more positive impact on tourists’ experience of the Indonesian province. 

The Head of the Bali Tourism Board, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, has told the media that the proposed travel quotas are a good idea and that the island remains on course to hit tourism targets for 2023.

He also shared that the bounce back of Bali’s tourism industry is going from strength to strength, noting that this will be helped by World Health Organization has formal removal of the Public Health Emergency Of International Concern for Covid-19. 

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Pemayun, like many tourism stakeholders in Bali, says that the formal downgrading of the international pandemic is a positive sign for global travelers.

However, he revealed that the central government had given no official plans to remove the final Covid-19 related travel restrictions, namely the requirement for international travelers over the age of eighteen to show proof of full Covid-19 vacation or medical exemption. 

With all this in mind, the Bali Tourism Board is keen to ensure that holidaymakers continue to have a memorable stay on the island.

Speaking to the news about WHO removing the global pandemic status, Pemayun said, “in Indonesia [Covid-10] is still being managed by the task force…but from the one side, the tourism industry is very happy about this so that it will make it easier for tourists from all over the world to move to Bali.”

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Speaking on the topic of the proposed travel quotas for Bali, the Head of the Tourism Board urged that the plans are designed to help promote quality tourism, which will translate into even better travel experiences for tourists. 

Pemayun said, “quota is not quantity; it means quality. So far, this quality is what is wanted because the Governor has prepared [new policies] concerning standards for implementing Balinese Cultural Tourism. Everything is standard, including [the policies]. How do we [promote] quality and dignified tourism.’

He also took the opportunity to highlight how the quotas will also serve as an opportunity to help travelers experience more local culture and traditions of Bali while also protecting the stunning natural landscapes that the island is so famous for

@traveltomtom This is NO ❌ tourist show, this is the real #Bali 😍 #hindu #balinese #culture ♬ original sound – Traveltomtom

What is the drama around these proposed tourism quotas? On Friday, 5th May, Bali’s Governor Koster made a series of big announcements at the Future Of Bali Development, 100 Years of Bali in the New Year 2025-2125, conference; Governor Koster announced that he wants to put a cap on tourism arrivals in Bali. 

This, he says, will help improve the public image of the island and ensure that quality tourism is prioritized for the benefit of both tourists and local communities. He said, “Tourism control [is needed] so that tourism is not cheap, mass tourism, as we have seen in recent cases.”

Luxury-Hotel-Resort-In-Ubud-Jungle-Forest-With-Pool

Governor Koster has suggested that the quota should be fixed around the number of international arrivals that visited Bali annually before the pandemic.

He also suggested that financial checks should be carried out on tourists to ensure that they have more than sufficient funds for their stay. 

Tourists-Relax-on-Kuta-Beach-Bali

The Governor explained, “[the quota] is limited to seven million foreign tourists, for example, per year, with certain criteria, so it’s tightened. For example…a minimum [amount] of money to carry in savings. Don’t let [tourists] only bring IDR 10 million enough for a week and suddenly stay in Bali] for a month.”

Padang-Padang-Beach-Uluwatu-Bali

As it stands, Bali is very much open and welcoming to international tourists. Travelers who are planning their trips to the Island of the Gods can continue to do so safely in the knowledge that these proposes are not yet enacted into policy.

Even if plans go ahead, millions of international travelers will be welcome to explore all that Bali has to offer every single year. 

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J West

Monday 15th of May 2023

Announcing that all tourists are forced to arrive carrying large amounts of cash, good plan. This will take the guess work out of robberies.

Shorty

Sunday 14th of May 2023

Koster and the Bali Assembly legally don't have the right to cap tourist to Bali.

Exp

Monday 15th of May 2023

@Shorty, If they make Bali less attractive via their policies the numbers will self limit.

JK

Sunday 14th of May 2023

These governor proposals are in response to social media posts. He is just saying these things to make it seem like he is trying to do something.

Raymond

Monday 15th of May 2023

@JK, Correct, lots of talk no action and absolutely no inent on cleaning the place up. He has his money stashed at DBS Bank in Singapore like the rest of his buddies from here, his kids go to school in France and a nice condo on Orchard Road awaiting him.

Exp

Monday 15th of May 2023

@JK, Correct. Instagram is setting the agenda for Bali officials.

Frank

Sunday 14th of May 2023

Quality tourists choose other destinations that are not full of trafic, horrendous plastic and air pollution in the South.

From all the Mass tourism we dont see any money being spent on cleaning up the island and having adequate waste removal or drain water collection.

Just go to Canggu and Berawa and see all the polluted water flowing into the Ocean and plastic waste everywhere.

He talks about quality tourism but look at how the people that live her trash there environment.

Are these classed as quality people and how he says about 10 million rupiah being only enough for a week, when the average local pay is under the required 2.8 Million at best per month.

Bali cannot expect quality high paying tourists when the island is not respected at all by the local people and money goes into Rich business owners pockets.

Rather than to protect, conserve and clean up the Island that is so desperately needed.

Wayan should start telling us how the money received from the devastating impact tourism is having on the environment.

Is going to be spent to protect it.

Before being concerned about people not spending enough money....

Shorty

Wednesday 17th of May 2023

@Frank, '..Quality tourists choose other destinations that are not full of traffic..' Obviously haven't been to Bangkok recently.

Exp

Monday 15th of May 2023

@Frank,

Quote "Just go to Canggu and Berawa and see all the polluted water flowing into the Ocean and plastic waste everywhere."

Correct. The large drain outside my villa was starting to fill up with closed plastic bags full of trash. I suspect from nearby unofficial businesses like street warungs. I reported this to local Desa and nothing done. This morning all the trash bags washed away by sudden downpour, with the trash ending up in Benoa bay and nearby beaches.

Unless Bali start with free of charge trash collection among its low income population the trash problem will just get worse.

George

Saturday 13th of May 2023

One day....when Mr. Koster and his friends have destroyed the entire Bali tourism industry they will beg for any kind of tourist to come back to Bali. For your interest Mr. Koster, the backpack tourists who you are trying to hold back are bringing in more income to the island than the thousands of cruise boat passengers which you have allowed to come to Bali. So make up your mind! Do you want to continue with this arrogance attitude or are you getting to work and find a real solution for the troubles you are facing?

Firechef

Monday 15th of May 2023

@George, Koster never reads the Bali Sun, so he doesn't know what people think and rest assured that the Bali Sun is not making an effort to make him aware of this situation. They are much too busy reaping the money from the advertisers on this rag.

Nama

Sunday 14th of May 2023

@George, could not agree more. 👍

Bill

Sunday 14th of May 2023

@George, Bali is finished. 20 years ago. It's becoming now a Russian Federation because of the numbers. Arrogant crunts! Mr Kost should quit as it's a built up piece of poo nowdays hate to say.