Bali Tourism Boom: Mid-Year Results Show a Record Year is Coming!
The mid-year results are in! In our previous blog, we mentioned that Bali officials expect over 7 million visitors in 2024. And if the official numbers through the months of January and June are any indication, that prediction is rapidly becoming a reality! The latest statistics from the Bali Tourism Bureau show that the number of arrivals has already hit 2,9 million tourists, a 23.6% increase over last year, and the peak season hasn't even begun. If this trend continues, it will be a record-breaking year for Bali tourism.
Bali has long been a favorite holiday destination for Australians, and in fact, there are more Australians coming this year than ever before. So far, the numbers show a 18.65% increase in visitors from the same period in 2023, with more than 700,000 Australians making the trip.
The biggest contributor to this year’s numbers is clearly from the regional SE Asian markets While India consistently holds the number #2, the Chinese market was slow to return last year, but with 222,546 visitors, it’s a massive 112.72% rise from last year! South Korea has also contributed significantly, with a 33.53% rise in tourists from last year. The number of South Korean visitors is expected to rise even further with the introduction of direct flights from a South Korean airline.
TOP 10 DIRECT FOREIGN TOURIST ARRIVALS TO BALI BY MARKET COUNTRY IN JANUARY - JUNE 2024
| Country | Ranking | 2023 | Share (%) | Ranking | 2024 | +/-(%) | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1 | 591,437 | 25.11 | 1 | 701,717 | 18.65 | 24.11 |
| India | 2 | 214,163 | 9.09 | 2 | 278,652 | 30.11 | 9.57 |
| China | 6 | 104,621 | 4.44 | 3 | 222,546 | 112.72 | 7.65 |
| United Kingdom | 4 | 118,114 | 5.02 | 4 | 137,825 | 16.69 | 4.74 |
| USA | 3 | 119,971 | 5.09 | 5 | 128,122 | 6.79 | 4.40 |
| South Korea | 8 | 94,180 | 4.00 | 6 | 125,763 | 33.53 | 4.32 |
| Malaysia | 7 | 98,641 | 4.19 | 7 | 115,615 | 17.21 | 3.97 |
| French | 11 | 80,003 | 3.40 | 8 | 107,059 | 33.82 | 3.68 |
| Singapore | 5 | 112,382 | 4.77 | 9 | 106,016 | -5.66 | 3.64 |
| Germany | 9 | 85,670 | 3.64 | 10 | 91,408 | 6.70 | 3.14 |
Source: Bali Government Tourism Office
“These numbers are absolutely astounding,” says Mark Reed, International Sales Manager for GPFG. “We monitor these numbers closely because our investors want to know about the potential for occupancy and high returns, and will Bali attract crowds for years to come. With more Australians and potentially more international tourists than ever before, we can give assurance that Bali investors will be very happy in the coming years.”
It's not just international tourists flocking to Bali—domestic tourism is also flourishing. By June 2024, domestic arrivals reached nearly 5 million, marking a 5.2% increase from the same period last year. Bali is still the number one vacation spot for locals, and the island love affair is stronger than ever, drawing the highest total arrivals in recent years.
DOMESTIC TOURIST ARRIVALS TO BALI, MONTHLY
| Month | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 793,527 | 879,702 | 282,248 | 527,447 | 720,16 | 774,529 |
| February | 692,113 | 721,105 | 240,608 | 389,690 | 629,282 | 726,744 |
| March | 787,616 | 567,452 | 305,579 | 547,726 | 665,751 | 612,742 |
| April | 795,997 | 175,120 | 330,593 | 500,740 | 900,880 | 1,124,781 |
| May | 656,082 | 101,948 | 363,959 | 960,692 | 943,713 | 852,253 |
| June | 128,787 | 137,395 | 498,852 | 753,907 | 883,793 | 898,355 |
| Total | 5,013,212 | 2,582,722 | 2,021,839 | 3,680,202 | 4,743,583 | 4,989,404 |
Source: Bali Government Tourism Office
More New Flight Routes Planned for Bali
On average, Bali is welcoming around 43,200 tourists per day. This surge in visitors is paving the way for more flight routes to the island.
In late 2024, Bali is set to welcome new flight routes. Bali Airport has confirmed that six foreign airlines. This includes three South Korean airlines—Air Busan, Jeju Air, and T’way Airlines. Starlux Airlines from Taiwan, which currently flies to Jakarta, is also planning to launch flights to Bali. And there are also airlines from Russia and Uzbekistan. Additionally, Air New Zealand will extend its services from a seasonal to a year-round schedule, reflecting its commitment to the destination.
New Visa System and Infrastructure Updates
Earlier this year, the Indonesian government has introduced a new online visa application system. This update includes new visa codes for different visit purposes, such as tourism, business, or specific permits. Additionally, Bali's airport has installed automatic immigration gates (autogates) to enhance the efficiency of international flights. This system applies to ASEAN countries and travellers who have applied online and received an E-VOA. With autogate, the duration of immigration services can be reduced from several minutes to just 15 to 25 seconds.
Source: welcomebacktobali.com
“For years, we have seen photos of long lines of immigration at the airport, with unending complaints of long waits, up to 3 or 4 hours. Now, we are thrilled to see the new changes and modern upgrades. This makes the arrival to Bali a more pleasant experience right from the start.” says Reed.
In response to the surge in tourism, Bali Airport is increasing its capacity from 24 million to 32 million passengers. This expansion involves enlarging several areas in the domestic, international, and other terminal sections. The capacity boost aligns with the growing number of international flight routes to and from the airport, and the first phase is set to be completed in 2024.
Alongside these changes, Bali's infrastructure is also seeing significant improvements. Indonesia’s Minister has announced that the groundbreaking for the construction of Bali’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) is set for September 2024. The LRT will connect Ngurah Rai Airport to Mengwi, covering approximately 30 kilometres. The first phase will link the airport to Kuta, marking a significant milestone in the region’s transportation development.
For more information on Bali’s booming tourism market, the forecasts for travellers, and how these numbers are affecting our ROI forecasts for investors, get in touch with our team today.