There Is A New Trend Of Tourists Staying Less Time In Bali – But Why?

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Newly released travel data shows that tourists visiting Bali are spending less time on the island than they have in previous years. But why?

The Island of the Gods is as stunning as it has always been and more accessible than ever before, so why are tourists spending less time?

The Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, Tjokorda Bagus Pemayun, has been discussing travel data with reporters. He was able to confirm that before Covid-19, the average number of foreign tourists visiting per day was around 15,000.

Currently, around 12,361 international arrivals are landing at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport daily. 

Pemayun suggested that there are a number of reasons why tourists are staying for less time in Bali than before the pandemic.

He began his explanation by saying, “The Governor is targeting quality and dignified tourists…The most important thing is to respect Balinese cultural customs.”

@kyu00055 Finally hello bali 😍🛬 #bali #ngurahraiinternationalairport #citlink #holiday ♬ Landing di Bali – Faizal Maulana

When asked to quantify what a quality tourist would look like, Pemayun suggested that one example of a quality tourist is someone who travels using the services of a travel agent and a private driver.

This is a clear nod to Governor Koster’s proposed ban on tourists driving in Bali, a move that would require visitors to hire a private driver through a government-approved travel agent. 

Irrespective of anyone’s description of a ‘quality tourist,’, travel data clearly shows that the average international visitor to Bali is spending less time on the island.

Pemayun revealed, “If you look at the immigration data, the average is seven days; we expect 14 days to 21 days; in 1990, it was 21 days.”

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@herenowwherenext Replying to @galitshneiderman my 1 week Bali itinerary! Deff would recommend staying longer if you have the chance though there’s so much I still want to do 🙌🏼 #bali #baliitinerary #baliguide #travelinspo #travelguide #thingstodobali #whattodoinbali #baliinspired ♬ Everywhere – Fleetwood Mac

But why? One immediate answer is the accessibility of travel and the normalization of international travel. In the 1990s, it was a real mission to visit Bali from anywhere in the world.

While travel between Bali and Australia was beginning to become widely accessible 1990s, the introduction of low-cost airlines in South East Asia in the regions leading transportation hubs in the last 10-15 years has made it easier than ever before for travelers to visit the island.

@backpackersasia Here our 3 weeks itinerary in Bali, Indonesia. For backpackers and nature lovers 🤍 We went to Depensar and had fun at Kuta Beach 🏄‍♀️. Ubud and enjoy its terrace ricefields and its temples. 🌾 Amed for scuba diving 🐟 Gili Trawangan, Meno and Air for the wonderful turtles and underwater statues. 🐢 and Nusa penida and the incredible beaches and landscapes 🏝️ If you want more details check our profile and follow us for more ❤️ #bali #amedbeach #scubadiving #ubud #ricefield #turtle #monkeyforest #itinerarytravel #itinerarybali #backpacking #gilitrawangan #giliairisland #gilimenostatue #lombok #nusapenida #beach #indonesia #foryou #pourtoi #ypシ ♬ Vacation – Dirty Heads

What data shows is that travelers appear to be spending less time on the island; however, it could also be interpreted that there are just as many people staying for the long trips but that there is an increasing number of people visiting Bali overall compared to the 1990s.

This is exactly what tourism leaders in Bali have been working for for years, and it is a positive thing. The rise of social media and travel content creators over the last ten years has helped put Bali firmly in the minds of international travelers from all over the world.

Everyone wants to visit Bali for as long or as short of a time as they have available.

The average stay for tourists in Bali being reduced to an average of seven days is partly because It’s easier to get in and out of the island. Both long-haul and short-haul travel are quicker and more affordable than at any other time in history.

So, of course, international travelers, especially expats, are hopping from neighboring cities, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, or Bangkok, to Bali for the weekend or a quick week out of the office. 

Similarly, it is easier than ever for Australian travelers, consistently the island’s most frequent international visitors, to nip over for a week of sea, sand, and sunshine. Regular flight deals and international promotion of Bali as a travel destination.

Officials in Bali have been vocal about their desire to attract more tourists from China, Japan, and India to the island this year. Travel data shows that generally, travelers from China and Japan, in particular, will travel for 4-6 days before returning home. 

It is absolutely understandable that tourism stakeholders in Bali want to see tourists stay longer on the island. Stay longer, and spend more; that is the crux of what tourism leaders want to see from ‘quality’ tourists to the island. And it is easier than ever for tourists to stay for a decent amount of time in Bali.

Indonesia’s visa on arrival costs just IDR 500,000 and is valid for 30 days. This visa can be extended for a further 30 days meaning that international arrivals are welcome to explore Bali and Indonesia’s other incredible islands for a solid two-month period.