Bali, Indonesia, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations thanks to its revered culture, beaches, restaurants, nightlife and vibe, has struggled throughout the past year from COVID-19-related financial shortcomings.
However, officials there are starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel, and Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, Bali’s deputy governor, is hoping that Chinese tourists will help them get there.
A “free COVID corridor” between Bali and China was proposed on Monday. This idea was sparked by Sukawati observing how quickly China is vaccinating its citizens. A million had been vaccinated by Dec. 19, and 24 million doses had been disseminated by the end of January although that latter figure only accounts for no more than 1.6% of the country’s populace having received at least one dose.
To help this corridor become a reality, Sukawati has asked Indonesia’s national government “to prioritize vaccines for Bali businesses” in order to help make this island a more attractive destination to Chinese tourists.
However, this is just the latest proposal that Bali officials have put forth. A month ago, Sandiaga Uno, Indonesia’s Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, started promoting Bali as a destination for remote workers. He even served as an example, starting to work there on Jan. 28.
Bali, Indonesia 
Woman at the Great Wall, China
In fact, Uno had also already prioritized vaccines for both Bali and Java residents on Jan. 4 in an earlier effort to help speed up the reopening process in these areas. The plan at that time was to vaccinate 70% of Bali’s population in the near future. He also stressed at the time that it is essential for those in Bali to enforce relevant health and safety protocols to ensure that it is a safe place to visit.
Meanwhile, Bali has experienced strong strides forward as far as COVID-19 infection rates are concerned. On Saturday, the island reported that it had recorded just 139 new cases over the previous 24 hours, nearly half of the daily rate several days earlier. Additionally, 384 were deemed to have recovered in the previous 24 hours prior to that announcement on Saturday.
Dewa Made Indra, the head of Bali’s COVID-19 handling task force, said that the safety measures that have been implemented and the cooperation that has been taking place amongst officials there are the reasons behind these encouraging numbers. However, he also stressed that prevention protocols must continue to be followed to keep potential surges at bay.
Although tourism numbers are down, Bali remains one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. For example, it earned recognition as the world’s top destination in January, according to TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards. Bali officials are hoping that continued interest will pay off soon in increasing numbers of actual visitors.
