The Indonesian Island has had strict Covid laws in place for the last two years but now looks to recover its tourism sector.
The resort island of Bali in Indonesia has scrapped quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated arrivals as the island’s governor said: “Bali’s tourism has been stuck for two years and its time for recovery.”
Travellers from 23 countries will now be able to skip frustrating hotel quarantines providing they are fully vaccinated and boosted, have a negative PCR test on arrival, and can supply proof of a paid-for hotel booking for at least four days. Countries that are accepted under this new scheme include the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France, Italy and more.
Tourists will also need to take a PCR test on their third day on the island and ensure they have proof of health insurance that includes Covid-19 cover. Masks are still mandatory across most of Bali.
As you can see, it’s still not a simple process, but much more accessible than the previous rules that saw arrivals forced into at least a three-day quarantine at their own expense.
More good news is that if the new protocols are successful, officials will drop the mandatory hotel quarantine guidelines across the whole of Indonesia by April 1 – perfect for if you are heading elsewhere in the country after Bali.
Known for its idyllic beaches, ornate temples, thick jungle and buzzing nightlife, Bali drew 6.2 million foreign visitors in 2019, the year before Covid-19 struck. But only a handful of visitors have returned since Bali started opening up to foreign tourists last October, discouraged by the need to quarantine and other rules.
Tourism makes up 50 per cent of Bali’s economy and 70 per cent of residents on the island work within the industry. Many locals are apparently desperate to see the return of tourists, particularly because neighbouring countries such as Thailand and the Philippines have moved faster in implementing quarantine-free programmes for foreign tourists.
The new relaxed requirements for arrivals give travellers a glimmer of hope to enjoy Bali’s peak season between May and August when the weather is most settled and the optimum number of bars, clubs, restaurants and activities are up and running.