Officials In Bali Urge Tourists To Ensure They Are Fit And Healthy Before Traveling 

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Tourists traveling to Bali are advised to assess their health and fitness before committing to itineraries and boarding their flights.

The calls come after a series of emergencies have been recorded by medical teams in Bali responding to foreigners in need. 

This week has seen natural disasters and unseasonable weather hit headlines in Bali, followed by calls for tourists to ensure that they have fully comprehensive travel and medical insurance in the event of a force majeure. However, medical teams and search and rescue teams in Bali are calling for tourists to seriously check in with their health and fitness conditions before traveling to the island.

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Reports of medical emergencies in Bali this week have been mounting up. On Sunday, 6th July, an Australian national fell as he was arriving in Bali from his Jetstar flight from Perth to Bali. He suffered a serious head and neck injury as he hit a wall during the fall. 

The Head of Public Relations of the Airport Area Police, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Ipda I Gede Suka Artana,  confirmed the incident to reporters. He confirmed that the incident took place after baggage collection at Bali Airport, along the walkway to the passenger pick-up area.

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Artana told reporters, “The victim had a seizure and fainted at the scene.” It was quickly confirmed by the unnamed man’s wife that he had a history of hypertension. Artana added, “After receiving initial medical treatment, the victim was then evacuated to BIMC Kuta Hospital for further treatment.”

He thanked the Airport Area Police and support teams for their assistance during the incident and told reporters, “The I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Regional Police are always on alert and synergize with all related parties, to ensure the security and safety of passengers in the airport environment.”

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It is not only health that tourists must take into consideration while planning and organising their itineraries in Bali, but fitness, skills, and the Indonesian law too. On Tuesday, 8th July, a 40-year-old mother and her 19-year-old son were successfully found after getting seriously lost on Bali’s Mount Batukaru in Tabanan Regency. The pair had embarked on the hike as part of a group of seven climbers but had become separated. 

Speaking to reporters, the Head of Bali Basarnas, I Nyoman Sidakarya, said that the SAR team members who were conducting the search found traces of food left behind by the pair who had embarked on a group hike without a guide. It is illegal for both domestic and international tourists to hike on any of Bali’s volcanoes or mountains without a local guide. 

Sidakarya told reporters, “We found traces of food, and the team continued to an altitude of 1,600 meters above sea level.” The mother and son were found safe, though freezing cold, and were able to walk themselves back down the trail with the guidance of the Search and Rescue team. 

Speaking to the media following the recent death of a Brazilian tourist on Lombok’s Mount Rinjani, the Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, urged all tourists in Indonesia to take seriously the risks involved in climbing any of the country’s peaks.

Minister Antoni explained, “Climbing the mountain is not the same as going to the mall. Requires physical, mental, and adequate equipment. Don’t just follow the trend, because safety should not be at stake.”

He added, “Our imagination about climbing a mountain should not be equated with going to the office, on vacation; this requires physical exercise, complete equipment, and mental readiness.”

As of Thursday evening, there was still no trace of a 29-year-old Saudi Arabian tourist who was swept out to sea while swimming at Batu Belig Beach. Denpasar Search and Rescue Teams were deployed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to try and locate the missing tourist, though the search has been hampered by poor visibility. Search and Rescue missions in Indonesia typically operate for 7 days unless an extension is granted based on evidence gathered in the 7 days prior. 

Search and Rescue operations from across Bali and Indonesia are still working around the clock to locate the bodies of the victims of the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya ferry disaster on Wednesday, 2nd July. As Barsarnas’ teams continue to scour the waters between Ketapang Port and Gilimanuk Harbour, drivers have confirmed that the shipwreck has been pushed at least 800m away from the point where it sank, making the rescue mission even more difficult.