| Travellers from 23 countries including Australia can once again get a visa on arrival in Bali after the central governmentThe announcement comes three days after Garuda reconnected Australia to the holiday mecca with a weekly Sydney-Bali service. The Indonesian airline is the first to resume direct flights between Australian cities and Bali. Jetstar is due to follow next week and Qantas will recommence Denpasar flights from Melbourne on April 14 and Sydney April 15.
Komang Artana, deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel Manager Association said the high cost of the visitor visa had resulted in some “mafia-like” practices. Mr Komang, who is also general manager of the Cross Bali Breakers resort, said the new visas would be much more transparent and the process would be discussed later today in a stakeholder meeting with the Governor of Bali and his staff.Ross Taylor, president of the Perth-based Indonesia Institute, said the visa decision was a game changer.
“We expect the initial uptake of flights to Bali will be a little slow as people are still hesitant. But as the Australian winter season approaches, new flights are introduced and Bali enters its dry season, the attraction of balmy nights sitting on the beach with a Bintang will prove too much for many Aussies. By July, we expect a strong rebound.”
In addition to Australians, who have long favoured Bali as a holiday destination, travellers from the United States, New Zealand, the UK, Italy, Germany and all ASEAN nations are among those who qualify for the new visa on arrival. All tourists are required to be fully vaccinated and have a PCR test before boarding the plane to bali. They also need to do a test on arrival.