The World Water Forum will kick off in Nusa Dua on May 18th, with heads of state and delegations from over 175 countries arriving in Bali to discuss water and other topics.
While leaders have assured tourists that they will be unaffected by the huge international event, some resorts are fully booked, meaning last-minute travelers must search a little harder for a place to stay this week and next.
The 10th World Water Conference will be held in Nusa Dua from the 18th – 25th May, with welcoming events and cultural blessing ceremonies already underway.
Over 35,000 delegates will be in attendance and as a result the hotels in the Nusa Dua area are fully booked.
The Deputy Chair of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association Bali, I Gusti Ngurah Suryawijaya, told reporters, “Hotels in general in the Nusa Dua area will be full, especially in The Nusa Dua (ITDC) where there are around 16,000 hotel rooms, they will be very full.”
Suryawijaya continued, “Those who cannot stay in Nusa Dua will choose other areas such as Kuta and Sanur. Likewise, tourists who usually check in at Nusa Dua because it is full will switch. This can increase occupancy in the Ubud area.”
Tourists who have already booked and secured their accommodation in Nusa Dua over this period will be welcomed as heartily as ever.
However, tourists arriving in Nusa Dua and traveling around the area in the coming days should be mindful that there will be significantly more traffic on the roads and that there may be some temporary road closures for security purposes as heads of state and world leaders are transported from place to place.
Tourists who are struggling to find last minute accommodation in Nusa Dua will still find reasonable room availability in nearby Benoa, Sanur and towards the Kutuh area along the Bukit Peninsula.
To dodge the delegations completely, tourists who have a flexible travel literary would be wise to head towards Amed or Lovina for pristine beaches, hardly any crowds and affordable accommodation options.
Suryawijaya shared how he and his teams are happy that the World Water Forum is coming to Bali, not only to discuss the world’s relationship with water but also as a boost to tourism and the local economy.
Suryawijaya told reporters, “WFF is essential to human life. Moreover, in Bali, there is local wisdom in Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali, which is the glorification of water, namely Danu Kerthi and Segara Kerthi.”
“We hope that the whole community will support this event to maintain the security and comfort of delegates while they are in Bali.”
Events for the World Water Conference are already underway, and tourists in Bali may encounter some of these ceremonies during their vacations.
Tourists are welcome to observe from a distance but are also reminded to honor the instructions of police, army officers, and security officials who are ensuring the safety of the events.
Over the next few days there will be groups of dancers ready to welcome delegates at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
Tourists may be able to catch a glimpse of the traditional dancers performing for heads of state and delegations on arrival.
The Head of the Bali Culture Service, I Gede Arya Sugiartha, told reporters, “There will be Pendent dancers as usual for heads of state and heads of government on the evening of May 18th.”
He added “On May 17th delegations will arrive but for the presidents, prime minsters and heads of government, they arrive on the May 18th evening, so there will be dancers the 18th in the evening and on the 19th in the morning.”
During the World Water Forum, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo will be joined by Elon Musk to launch Starlink in Indonesia.
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Greg
Saturday 18th of May 2024
Best to avoid Bali altogether as my cousin says who lives there a for around another year or so before returning to Australia. Just too many people he says, combined with increased political interference and emerging problems with a particular faith group. Better lesser known places in Asia to visit and stay. Be weary of Thailand, friend just returned from there and said 800 people arrive at the airport every day escaping Russia and moving to Thailand. .