Bali officials have announced that among all the countries that will be prioritized to join the travel bubble arrangement with Bali, Australia is not one of them.
Bali Vice Governor, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati (Cok Ace) said that during the preparation stage to reopen the international travel corridor that is expected to be established by June or July of this year, he confirmed that Australia is no longer the top priority for Bali tourism.
“When the central government finally reopens our border, we may not see any Australians to visit Bali anytime soon,” Cok Ace said on Tuesday (6/4).
Cok Ace explained that the reasoning behind the arrangement is that the Australian government doesn’t plan to allow their citizens to travel outside of their country for quite a long time.
“We didn’t see any chance that the Australian government would allow their citizens to travel outside of the country, including to Bali anytime soon,” Cok Ace added. The central government is now focusing on arranging the travel bubble with other countries such as the Netherlands, China, Singapore, and UAE.
“We’re still trying to communicate the travel bubble arrangement with several other countries apart from those 4 appointed countries, but we won’t reopen our border until the Covid-19 vaccine is distributed to the majority of the population in the island” Cok Ace concluded.
Meanwhile, Cok Ace also targeted the majority of residents in Jembrana, West Bali to receive the Covid-19 vaccine in the near future because the region is part of the main entrance for domestic tourists to gain access to visiting the island through Gilimanuk Port in Jembrana.
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J West
Wednesday 7th of April 2021
Too many people travelling with faked Covid negative docs. Russia, India , Singapore . Isn't there a way to stop the disease with better training and technology?
Mark Fahey
Wednesday 7th of April 2021
Australia has opened its border with New Zealand - so Cok Ace's quote is now not quite up to date - “We didn’t see any chance that the Australian government would allow their citizens to travel outside of the country, including to Bali anytime soon".
Of course, the reason that Australia isn't interested in a travel bubble with Bali is that there is no containment of COVID in Bali at this time. There is virtual no COVID in Australia and rapid lockdowns quickly contain any new transmission. Why would Australia be interested in opening a travel bubble to an island that has repeatedly shown it cant effectively provide public health strategies to control COVID.
Randy
Saturday 10th of April 2021
@Paul Morris, I am very well aware of what's happening in Indonesia. Let's not judge a book by its cover! Actually many people have this one track mind that Bali is the center of the universe. The rest of Indonesia does not matter.
Recently there was a tropical cyclone that passed through NTT (East Nusa Tenggara). Heard over the grapevines that many people regardless of religious beliefs in Java and elsewhere in Indonesia have raised money, food and clothings to help the victims in the predominantly Christian NTT.
World Health Organization (WHO) vaccine experts have said an interim analysis of clinical trial data from two Chinese COVID-19 vaccines "demonstrated safety and good efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19 disease."
These two Chinese vaccines are likely to be included into the emergency use list of the WHO by the end of April as more data is needed for the organization to approve the two jabs.
Many countries including Indonesia have ordered and inoculated some of its population. Although more are needed to reach herd immunity.
There are reasons that people in the West as much you have this suspicion because the virus was first discovered in China. Trump's last adninistration has escalated the situation and pointed fingers at China. Obviously it created doubts among people and countries in the West.
Many elderly and essential people in Indonesia have been administered with the two jabs and they are all still very much alive. There are less people in hospitals now as a result of the inoculation roll out. The rollout is not finished yet as folks under 60 years old have to be vaccinated as well. Indonesia is also slated to receive 54 million doses of AstraZeneca in phases but it is facing importation delays.
On the other hand there are concerns with AstraZeneca about possible rare side effects like blood clots and abnormal bleeding that have rattled confidence in the vaccine and delayed the already slow and troubled inoculation campaign in Europe.
Bravo!! You have been vaccinated with AstraZeneca that makes perfect sense as Australia is a commonwealth nation. The UK has recently distributed manufactured doses supply of vaccine to Australia. While Europe and the US are reluctant with the vaccines due to some insufficient data, exportation and results. Both sides of the aisle are now stuck on second gear. AstraZeneca is on the back burner for time being until differences are resolved.
Many are always eagered to underestimate Indonesia as always. I know who those may be...
Paul Morris
Friday 9th of April 2021
@Randy, well Randy for someone who doesn’t live in Bali how the fk would you know what is happening to the Balinese people, most have had NO work for the last 12 months , even before the pandemic the Balinese were not well off and having to borrow money to pay for medical treatment, school fees and many more basic essentials. Earning $300US a month doesn’t get you very far especially when you have a wife and 3 children and that is working in a good hotel. And yes as for the vaccine I am in that category that received the vaccination first and it was the AstraZeneca not that shit they are giving the Balinese people Sinovac Chinese crap that has still not been authorised by the world Health Organisation for use.
Randy
Friday 9th of April 2021
@Paul Morris, here we go again about people are starving... Well if tourism is back on with people vaccinated and it is safe to do so perhaps there could be revenue to be made by some who are in dire situation.
Furthermore as Australia struggles with its coronavirus vaccine rollout, America vaccinated eight million people in two days. Still more to come. Great news for us. So have you been vaccinated yet in Australia?? Well at least Indonesia seems to be doing a vaccine rollout without any delays.
It is understandable of the geopolitical closeness that there could be a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand. But then wasn’t there a delay recently by the New Zealand decision to do so…
Randy
Friday 9th of April 2021
@Mark Fahey, By the way there are still thousands of Australian citizens stranded abroad wishing to return home. Your government is not doing enough to help them out that the stranded Aussies have to write to the UN Commission on humam rights for their displeasure.
Furthermore as Australia struggles with its coronavirus vaccine rollout, America vaccinated eight million people in two days. Still more to come. So have you been vaccinated yet in Australia?? Well at least Indonesia seems to be doing a vaccine rollout without any delays.
It is understandable of the geopolitical closeness that there could be a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand. But then wasn't there a delay recently by the New Zealand decision to do so...
Paul Morris
Thursday 8th of April 2021
@Mark Fahey, well said and absolutely spot on they couldn’t run a chook raffle, but they are good at making big announcements while the people are starving.
Neil Gill
Wednesday 7th of April 2021
Why is Lovina, Singaraja not classed as a, Green Zone as, many tourist want to travel to sea the Dolphins and Diving etc..... It has less cases than many other Green Zone areas.... There, are hotels restaurants and general businesses going under... Your thoughts.
Alan
Wednesday 7th of April 2021
Well I must say that is so crazy, Australian contributes a large amount of money to the Bali economy. Your government needs to be aware that Australia is one of the Covid safe countries when it comes to the virus etc. Not including us in your plans could be a VERY BIG MISTAKE on your part !
Azz
Monday 26th of April 2021
@Alan, the Australian government is the problem not Indonesia, Indonesia is moving forward to reopen Australian government has no plan to allow any freedom to its citizens to travel so what would be the point of wasting time and money with Australia atm
Mark CHAPPELL
Monday 12th of April 2021
@it is not that Australia will not open bubble it is that Australia will not open bubble with Indonesia australia is already opening to new Zealand and also looks like Singapore very soon and I can guarantee part of the agreement will be Singapore can not open it boardered to Indonesia or any country not under control . Indo I pray can ope I love Indonesia bit it don't mater what the government say until they fgsin control the only countries that will open to Bali will be cou tried that also have bad control of covid as all safer countries will join bubble with safe cou tries they will not risk joining bubble with Indonesia if it means cutting of bubble to many other countries we all neex wake up and all Indonesia need to realise soez not mater what they ssnt until they all agree to vaccinafe nothing will change and I not sure about others but a good 60% people I ask will not vac image unless compulsory Fingers crossed for Bali it is my home now and my love
Randy
Friday 9th of April 2021
@Alan, if you feel Aussies' money contribute to the Bali Tourism then there should not be any strings attached. Why is that people have to remind others that they are making a difference to their local economy. It's silly and arrogant for the most part.
You said Australia is one of the covid safe continent. Well you need to be reminded that there are still thousands of Australian citizens still stranded abroad wishing to return home. The Aussie government is not doing enough to help them out that the stranded Aussies have to write to the UN Commission on human rights for their displeasure.
Randy
Friday 9th of April 2021
@Sean, that's absolutely correct.
There are still thousands of Australian citizens stranded abroad wishing to return home. The Aussie government is not doing enough to help them out that the stranded Aussies have to write to the UN Commission on humam rights for their displeasure. Sighs...
Sean
Thursday 8th of April 2021
@Alan, did you actually read the article?! Our government isn't letting us out!!! Indo could roll out a red carpet to AUstralia and it wouldn't make a difference... we CAN'T go regardless! And even if we DID manage to find a way to go... Australia wouldn't let us back in anyway.... lol