Bali Set To Strengthen Relations With Australian Tourists In 2024

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Officials in Bali have been visited by the Australian Consulate General, Jo Stevens, to discuss the future of the Bali-Aussie relationship.

It looks like 2024 is going to be another strong year for the special relationship.

During a visit to Denpasar Jo Stevens, the Australian Consul General in Bali revealed that 1.3 million Australian citizens visited Bali in 2023.

This figure contributed 25% of the more than 5 million international tourists to the Island of the Gods last year.

Speaking after a cross-agency meeting, Stevens said, “[There is] much love the Australian people have for Bali…We emphasize Australia’s support in ensuring that tourists respect Bali and its unique culture.”

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A notable comment as officials on the island inaugurated a new Tourism Civil Service Police Unit to help keep public peace and order within tourism space in Bali.

Stevens noted that Bali is a ‘ home-away-from’home’ for many Australians who live on the islands and make frequent visits. The short travel time and easy-to-find travel deals make Bali one of the top travel destinations for Australian holidaymakers. 

Steve told officials, “I hope our relationship will become even closer in the years to come.” Her visit comes just as the Australian Government has increased security warnings for tourists visiting Indonesia.

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In light of the upcoming general election in Indonesia on 14th February, the Australian government travel advice bureau, Smartraveler, has said that tourists must be mindful of security threats.

Officials in Bali and across Indonesia have affirmed that tourists will be safe and welcome in the country throughout the political campaigning period and the election itself. Campaigning has been underway for weeks, and everything has been peaceful in Bali. 

Advice from Smartraveler says, “The Indonesian Presidential election will take place on 14th February. Frequent political rallies and possible protests are likely to occur in the lead-up to the election.”

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There are no disturbances anticipated in Bali, though tourists should be aware that the situation could change.

The travel advice remains at level 2, and the advice for Australian tourists heading to Indonesia is as follows: “Exercise a high degree of caution overall due to security risks’.

With all this in mind, Bali remains a welcoming travel destination, and those planning their vacations for the long school holidays in June and July can look forward to increased connectivity between Bali and the Land Down Under. 

From 14th June, tourists from Canberra will be able to fly to Bali directly with Batik Air. Speaking at the announcement last week, the Head of Aviation at Canberra Airport told reporters, “Bali is an amazing destination that blends culture, nature, and adventure and appeals to all types of travelers.”

Batik Air is a popular low-cost airline that is part of the Lion Group. The airline now offers connections to Bali from six major cities in Australia, including Sydney, Perth, and Melbourne.

Travelers can also explore more flight options with Garuda Indonesia. The country’s national carrier will also be increasing flight services between major Australian cities and Bali in the middle of the year.

As of 17th June 2024, flight services between Melbourne, Sydney, and Denpasar with Garuda Indonesia will operate five times weekly. 

The service will then be increasing to a daily flight on 6th July 2024. 

Australian tourists remain the most frequent international arrivals in Bali. Before the pandemic, Australian tourists enjoyed visa-free travel to Indonesia for up to 30 days.

Now, tourists from 97 contraries, including Australia, must apply for a visa on arrival, which costs IDR 500,000.

There have been rumors that visa-free travel could return in 2024, though no legislative changes have been made just yet.