Bali Ranks High On Hotel Booking Site’s Most Searched Destinations

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Hotel booking provider Agoda has shared their latest data on travel trends and searches for Bali are booming. The online travel platform is one of the biggest websites for travelers and their data is echoing sentiments from the Indonesian government that the island is irreversibly open for business. 

The data shared by Aodga tracks searches from February 2022 when Indonesia announced the reopening of borders, until early May. The popular beach destination is topping the charts with search interest. In comparison with other countries in South East Asia, Indonesia ranked third, just losing out to Thailand and the Philippines. Bali ranked as the most searched destination for Indonesia. 

It’s not only the destinations that Agoda have been tracking searches for, they have been keeping an eye on where prospective travelers are coming from. If searches continue to translate to bookings, Bali can expect to receive an influx of visitors from Australia, the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. Agoda shared that the highest increase in searches for hotels and other accommodation in Bali came from Australia with an increase of 220% and from Singapore with an increase of 200%.

In an interview, the Senior Director for Agoda Indonesia, Gede Gunawan said ‘Pristine beaches and the unique culture and charm of Bali are undoubtedly luring travelers back. Whether visitors are a half-day flight away or just a couple of hours to the island, many still consider Bali as a paradise vacation destination and look to get back there as soon as they are able to’. 

Agoda has shared with the public a breakdown of the ranking of most searched destinations within Bali too. Kuta and Seminyak ranked first and second place, as they did in pre-pandemic figures too. The relaxed and jungly lure of Ubud helped rank it as the third most searched destination within Bali followed by Nusa Dua in a close fourth place. 

Destinations like Canggu, Ulutwau, Amed, and Lovina did feature in the rankings but interest cowers in comparison with iconic Kuta and Seminyak. For travelers who are eager to get a taste of the Bali vibes without the growing crowds, accommodation in the quieter, destinations that are a little further from the airport is recommended. 

Online booking platforms and travel providers are braced for an even greater surge in inquiries and bookings in the coming weeks. On Tuesday the Indonesian government scrapped the pre-arrival PCR test for travelers arriving in Indonesia. This comes as welcome news for prospective travelers who were having to budget for the equivalent of an extra night of accommodation just for their PCR tests. Travelers to Bali must now present their Covid-19 vaccine certificate to passport control.

Those who are exempt from the vaccine do not present a vaccine certificate but must show a letter confirming their exempt status signed by a medical doctor. Travelers under the age of 18 also do not need to show a vaccine certificate.

Quarantine free travel, visa on arrival for travelers from 60 countries, the scrapping of the pre-arrival PCR test, and relaxation of the mask mandates in outdoor settings are proving to be a recipe for success for Bali’s tourism sector. Travel providers like Agoda will be doing all they can to help facilitate increased demand and ensure that prospective travelers feel confident and informed prior to their arrival. 

Bali is renewing efforts to roll out the Covid-19 vaccine across the local population. Bali’s main city Denpasar is currently ranked as having the highest vaccine rate in all of Indonesia. Most people have received their second dose of the vaccine and the local government is now offering booster shots. The Covid-19 Task Force announced that they are focusing their efforts on ensuring the elderly population receives their vaccines as this was the demographic that showed most hesitancy.