At the moment it is boom time in Bali with record numbers of tourists from around the world visiting the paradise isle. This is not only great news for the Balinese Government but it is also great for the traders on the streets, the restaurants and places of nightlife. Bali is truly rockin’ n’ rollin’. I was reading a good article today regarding this boom time but, it seems that people are staying for a shorter period of time and although you have the entry turnover of mass proportions, does it equate to mass money pouring into the island. Naturally, it depends how you look at the situation. It’s fantastic the increase in tourism but are the tourists spending the same amount as they did on previous visits or less?. Personally, I think it is less. It appears to be a growing trend where airlines such as Garuda offer unbelievably cheap holidays for a great price and this is superb for those tourists wanting a quick break but, they are not staying longer and thus not spending the money.
This brings me to the point of the VOA. A majority of you will remember the good old days when you rocked up in Bali, had your 60 day visa stamped in your passport and then did your thing enjoying yourself and spending heaps of money. I think the VOA was the worst thing that ever happened to Bali and although it might be a money-spinner for the Indonesian government, it restricts the amount of time people are allowed to stay on the island. Not so long ago the Indonesian government floated an idea to offer a 120 day visa which had every frequent traveller to the island filling their suitcases in readiness for the announcement. Alas, it never came and everything returned to normal. If the government were to say that for your USD$25 you have a 60 day visa then I feel quite confident the tourism on the island would increase even more than it has become now, people would stay longer and, spend more money. Of course, we are living in hard economic times, globally, but if holidaymakers can budget for a longer stay then that is a positive outcome for Bali and its people. They will spend more money.
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Hi Eagle,
Definitely agree with you on what you wrote. In fact, I was talking to a young woman today who just managed to get a week at the Ramada Bintang as her agent told her that Bali was booked out and that was the only place available.
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If you could have a 60 or 120 day visa it would be huge for Bali and all of Indonesia. Many people want to stay longer but they soon realise they have to fly out from Denpasar or Jakarta and have to cut short on some other prefered locations like Komodo or Sumbabwa or Kalimantan the list can go on.
There is the option now with “Lion Air” to get very cheap flights return to Singapore. But still that cuts into the vaccation and really how many of those people come back or just keep going up to Malaysia and beyond.
Another thing is backpackers and people willing to travel for long periods of time, may not have a lot of money, but they are the ones who are more likely to spend their money on local hostles, foods and guides. These travellers in fact directly bennifit those Indonesians that need the money the most, in comparison to someone who drinks wine all day in the confines of their 5 star hotel and goes out once or twice for a hotel guided tour.
Get the 120 day visa and the tourists will come and they will benifit the Indonesians in the most remote areas.
Hi Barrie,
I agree that the VOA is a problem for those who are repeat visitors (like myself), and wish to spend their time in Bali and further afield in Java, etc. Many repeat visitors with a more developed knowledge and appreciation of the geographical and cultural aspects of the Island spend their time very differently to those who are less frequent visitors and to those who arrive in large tour groups and are provided only with a glimpse at predetermined sites,(I appreciate that this is also a cultural practice,an outcome of the time allocated for annual vacations in their country of origin).
From my experience of lining up in those endless queues to purchase a 30 day entry visa, there are many visitors who find it a very demanding experience and one they will not return for. Also the process of applying for a 60 day visa is off putting for many potential visitors.
Barrie, I to would like to see the return of the “good old days” and I am sure it would encourage greater visitation for longer periods of time and money spent more evenly across the Island. Like yourself and Rosco, I support a move to a USD$25 for a 60 or 120 day visa which also influences the mind sets of potential visitors when planning their trip by not locking them into a 7 or 30 day planning schedule.
Hi Greg,
In total agreement with you. If the government charged USD$25 for 60 days and USD$50 for a 120 day visa then for sure the number of travellers staying long-term would increase immensely.
I have superficial evidence that hotels are finding the length of stay is much less. Moreover tourists these days are repeat visitors and regular tourists have already done a massage on the beach, bought their cheap sarong, a knockdown kite, a designer plastic bag etc. thus the locals are not busier despite the increases in visitations. It is also partly to do with the fact that accommondation is now not limited to key areas but is spread all over the island.