The First Arrival of Chinese Tourists to Bali after the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster together with the Vice Governor of Bali, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati wearing Balinese traditional custom welcomed the first arrival of 216 Chinese tourists after the COVID-19 pandemic at I gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on Sunday 22 January 2023, after flying from Shenzhen, Tiongkok using Lion Air Charter Flight JT 2648.

Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Denpasar Bali, Zhu Xinglong, Deputy for Marketing of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, GM I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Handy Heryudhitiawan, Head of the Bali Government Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, Head of The Bali Communication Informatics and Statistic, Gede Pramana and Head of the Bali Department of Transportation, IGW Samsi Gunarta also welcomed the arrival of 216 Chinese tourists on the island of Bali consisting of 197 adults, 17 children and 2 toddlers accompanied by a Pendet Dance.

The Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster said, with the arrival of Chinese tourists to Bali, I am sure that Bali tourism will rise. Hopefully these tourism visits will continue, increasing until December 2023.

The charter flight became the first flight from China to Bali after the Xi Jinping government allowed its citizens to return to traveling abroad after the Covid-19 quarantine was opened on January 8. Starting February 6, the Chinese government will also begin releasing tourist groups to a number of countries around the world, including Indonesia.

With direct flights from China, Head of Bali Government Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus predicts that Bali Governor Wayan Koster's target for tourists can be achieved. "The Governor's target to bring in 4.5 million foreign tourists this year is optimistic that it will be achieved with direct flights from China, because that is one of the second market shares of foreign tourists to Bali," said the Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office.