BADUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – Tourism officials in Badung Regency have reported a noticeable decline in foreign tourist arrivals to Bali as flight disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to affect international travel routes.
The impact has been particularly visible in Bali’s main tourism areas, where several destinations that typically attract large numbers of international visitors have experienced a drop in activity.
Head of the Badung Tourism Office, I Nyoman Rudiarta, acknowledged that the ongoing situation has affected visitor arrivals and created complications for travelers attempting to leave the island.
“Overall, we are seeing a decrease in tourist arrivals to Bali, and there has also been a buildup of passengers at the airport because some travelers are having difficulty returning home,” Rudiarta said on Wednesday (March 11).
According to him, immigration authorities have already introduced temporary stay permits for affected foreign nationals whose flights were canceled or delayed.
Despite the decline in international visitor movement, the local government continues preparing tourism facilities ahead of upcoming holiday periods, as Bali competes with other regional destinations such as Singapore and Thailand.
Rudiarta said Bali remains a popular destination but faces increasing competition from both international and domestic tourism markets.
“Bali remains a favorite destination despite strong competition internationally and domestically. At the moment, destinations such as Yogyakarta are also gaining strong interest,” he said.
Local tourism authorities have been maintaining regular communication with tourism operators and destination managers to monitor the situation and ensure readiness for future visitor demand.
Hotel occupancy rates in Badung currently show varying levels depending on accommodation categories.
Based on a sample of dozens of hotels, average occupancy rates are still at moderate levels.
Data gathered in coordination with the Indonesian Hotel General Manager Association (IHGMA) from around 40 accommodation properties indicates that average occupancy is currently around 40 percent.
However, some hotels are performing better, with occupancy reaching up to 69 percent, while around 29 percent of sampled accommodations report occupancy levels between 70 and 80 percent.
Badung officials are now placing greater expectations on domestic tourism to help maintain economic stability during the current period of global uncertainty.
Domestic travelers are considered an important factor in supporting hotel occupancy and tourism-related economic activity across the regency.
“We hope domestic tourists will continue to play an important role in supporting economic activity and hotel occupancy in Badung. We also hope the current geopolitical situation will not significantly impact our tourism sector in the long term,” Rudiarta said.