With hundreds of millions of travelers effectively grounded as a result of the pandemic, the wanderlust among us have particularly struggled with all the different lockdowns, restrictions and requirements that have prevented us from seeing the world.
Yet whilst we may be unable to travel as we’d like, we are still allowed to dream, and the past year or so has given us ample time to add to our travel bucket lists. The stunning island of Bali is certain to feature on plenty of those lists, and the island is hoping to welcome tourists back from July – here’s how they’re hoping to achieve that.
Bali Speeds Up Vaccine Rollout – Information For Travelers
Most of Southeast Asia can only look on in envy at the speed at which other countries – like Israel, the UK and the USA – have received and started to distribute their vaccines to the population. However, Bali has set its sights on joining the ranks of the well-vaccinated by July, thanks to an ambitious vaccination drive by the Indonesian government.
Due to Bali’s status as a major tourist attraction and source of income in Indonesia, the government of Indonesia is keen to vaccinate the population of the island to such an extent that herd immunity is achieved amongst the local populace. Should this feat be achieved, the country would be able to welcome much-needed foreign tourists to the island once more, after a long, tough absence.
Speaking at the Bali Investment Forum this week, the government minister of maritime affairs and investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan revealed that they were hoping to vaccinate 1.8 million islanders by April and another million by May, with eyes set on herd immunity in July.
The government had previously designated three areas in Bali – Ubud, Nusa Dua, and Sanur – as “green zones” to be vaccinated ahead of a potential reopening, with the idea being that foreigners would limit their travel to these three zones. Vaccination of the three green zones got underway on March 22nd.
The government of Indonesia has also been looking into the possibility of the country setting up travel bubbles with other nations in order to kickstart tourism once again. Travel bubbles have proven to be a popular concept in Southeast Asia, with several currently in operation already, and would see travelers able to visit Bali without having to quarantine upon arrival.
Covid-19 In Bali
Bali has seen almost 40,000 cases of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, resulting in more than a thousand deaths on the island. On top of this, Bali has suffered enormously in a financial sense as a result of the lack of tourists; 6.9 million tourists made the trip to the island in 2019, supporting the thousands of people living in Bali that work in the travel and tourism industry, whilst only a million foreign travelers were able to make the trip in 2020.
Visiting Bali – Is It Possible At Present?
With its spellbinding natural beauty and awe-inspiring temples, it is hardly surprising that so many travelers flock to Bali in their droves. However, unfortunately for travelers, visiting Bali is nearly impossible for foreign travelers at present, with access to the island only possible for those who are residents of Indonesia. Hopefully, the situation will have changed with the result of their vaccination drive by summer.
Read more:
International Spectators Banned From Tokyo Olympics
Top 10 Asian Destinations From Movies That Will Inspire You To Travel
Thailand Reopening Phuket For Vaccinated Travelers With No Quarantine
Ready For Your Trip? Check The Latest Entry Requirements For Your Destination Here
↓ Elevate Your Travel↓
Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No ads, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!
✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path's latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.