This may be the hope Bali locals needed to get through the pandemic.
Thousands of domestic tourists arrived in Bali over the weekend in what was the first time Bali streets have been busy since the pandemic began.
Indonesia celebrated a national holiday weekend as domestic tourists from Jakarta, Surabaya and other major centers in Indonesia descended upon the island.
The Bali Sun was around the island all weekend to capture the moments.
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)
From October 25th to the 27th over 16,000 domestic tourists arrived in Bali over a 3 day period marking a new three day high since the pandemic began.
The arrivals at the domestic terminal on Tuesday Oct 27th 2020 was the highest day within the last 7 months with 6,305 tourists from 56 flights according to data from Air Traffic Control at Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport.
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)
Although Bali is still closed for international tourists, the island reopened on July 31st, 2020 for domestic tourism. Up until this weekend most Bali locals had not seen a considerable increase in visitors to the island.
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)
Even areas outside of the tourism epicenter of Kuta, Canggu, Sanur and Seminyak saw an increase in visitors.
Northern Bali reported a hotel occupancy of 20% over the holiday weekend after being at zero since the start of the pandemic.
After being suspended for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional dance performances finally returned to Uluwatu Temple with new health protocols in place.
Kecak Dancers at Ulutwatu Temple returned for performances this weekend to entertain domestic tourists. Although capacity at performances can reach 1200, it was limited to 400 people to allow for social distancing.
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)
The tourism centers of Kuta and Canggu were noticeably busier. Kuta beachwalk was once again bustling and traffic was lined up on multiple streets in the area.
The Sanur Port was overwhelmed with domestic tourists this weekend and had to launch more boats to Nusa Penida to keep up with demand.
Hundreds of people were seen in line at the Sanur Port ticket counter on the morning of Saturday Oct 31st 2020.
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)
Popular beaches were once again packed around Bali with domestic tourists.
The Indonesian National Disaster Management agency provided Bali with higher accuracy antigen COVID-19 tests for the holiday weekend to help prevent the importation of infections.
The new higher accuracy tests were reportedly mandatory for all domestic tourists entering Bali over the long weekend.
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)
(Image: ©The Bali Sun – I Wayan Yatika)
Although the surge in domestic tourism is expected to be short lived, it may have been just what Bali needed to once again see hope that life on the island will one day return to normal.
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