Thousands of foreign nationals decided to visit the Gili islands in Lombok to avoid the Day of Silence celebration in Bali.
The Head of Gili Hotel Association, Lalu Kusnawan, confirmed that 1,600 foreign nationals based in Bali visited the Gili islands to avoid the Day of Silence celebration. “Over 1,600 foreign visitors flew in to Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air starting 3 days prior the Day of Silence celebration,” Lalu said on Wednesday (2/3).
He explained that of the 1,600 visitors, 1,000 of them visited Gili Trawangan while the rest were spread among the other Gilis such as Gili Meno and Gili Air.
They went there using fastboats through the Padangbai Port in Karangasem, Bali. Although the hotels in Gili didn’t advertise special packages over the annual celebration, the influx of tourists have surged, with the average length of stay being 3 to 5 days.
Lalu admitted that the rise in visitors had a significant economic impact on the tourism sector of the Gili islands.
“Hotels, local vendors, bicycle rentals, and diving equipment rentals are benefiting from this incident. I have to admit that the economic impact is more significant as compared to the Superbike Race season in November 2021,” Lalu concluded.
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Randy
Saturday 5th of March 2022
This escape to Gili islands is a telltale sign that expats are not immersed in the culture nor seeking an inner soul searching during a one or two days of silence in Bali. However good for business as usual for this special long weekend in the neighboring Gili islands.
Wayan Bo
Friday 4th of March 2022
It can be expected that Bali will be full booked in April, because of Ransdan.
Dee
Wednesday 13th of April 2022
Mat. Don't be sad.Getting vaccinated is smart. Not about people making money. Bali has done a great job to protect the people. As tourists we need to respect the environment and the people of Bali. The last two years have been stressful for everyone and some have had it much harder than others.
Dee
Wednesday 13th of April 2022
@Mat,
Wayan Bo
Tuesday 8th of March 2022
@Mat, anyway, after rain should once come the sun. - “Full booked” was thought in expectation of domestic Ramadan tourists only. - Apropos architecture {= nature & freedom distraction}, it was much nicer in 1980’s and before than it’s today. Sad but true.
lumins
Monday 7th of March 2022
@Mat, the conspiracy theory life must be exhausting for you. Take care of your mental health. Bali really doesn't want people like you there.
Mat
Sunday 6th of March 2022
@Wayan Bo, "full booked"? Did you just say "full booked"? According to what? It's going to be a veeery long time until Bali gets back to its condition as it was before the "pandemic". Letting only vaccinated come in is still a halfway home. And they still need to be tested anyway, so that's a reason for some not to come.
Seriously, I love Bali, been there few times and fell in love with the culture, architecture, the landscapes, getting lost between the palm trees in order to find a hidden waterfall... It's just a one of a kind experience to stay on Bali for a week or two (even thou I spent there more). But my brother, I will say it again - until the gov. will not let everybody in, the island will be struggling to get back on track. All those restrictions are irrational. The vaccines are a huge absurd. Tests another absurd. All the freaking "pandemic" is an absurd. The virus happend not to be as deadly as the media shows. When are you going to realise that? It's all not for your own good and healt. It is and it was since the very beginning about the money. But of course, there are people, societies or (in this case) islands, that have to pay the price. It's really a shame that people around the world got fooled and they don't even realise that. A lot of them don't want to admit it even after realising. It's a vicious circle.
I can't believe this all is happening. Nothing would be the same anymore. How can you not see it's the NEW WORLD ORDER being introduced to us? Nothing, and I say it again - NOTHING will be the same anymore.
I do feel like crying.
Michael
Friday 4th of March 2022
I would welcome the celebration as well.
Michael
Friday 4th of March 2022
That’s a shame….