Bali Is Open For Tourism And Becoming World’s TOP Crypto Tourists Destination
Viktor Vincej·May 9, 2022Covid TravelReopening BordersTravel News·0 Comments·14 mins read
Bali is open for all international tourists and removed quarantine on March 21.
Visitors still need provide a negative PCR test result taken 3 days just before departure.
BALI Reopening Tourism – Latest Updates
May 9 – Thousands of Crypto “tourists” attracted to Bali within the last year
Bali is proving itself to be a high place to go for the world’s crypto enthusiasts, based on the Financial Times.
Tokocrypto, an Indonesian crypto exchange, reports that “it currently has 37,660 registered customers in Bali, up from 808 at the beginning of 2022.”
Trading cryptocurrencies, the metaverse and digital nomadism are among the interests from the crypto community in Bali.
The Indonesian crypto exchange has just opened T-Hub in Bali, a “crypto clubhouse” with a co-working space and a pool.
The crypto community also understands Bali’s struggles to restart its economy. Some time ago, an unidentified Bali-based group launched a crypto token you can use like a “discount coupon” at “any tourist spot in Bali,” to assist “millions of Balinese… stay strong during Covid-19.”
April 25 – The rise on the VoA fees in Bali is simply a “hoax” says, governor
Bali Governor Wayan Koster has dismissed like a “hoax” allegations from our news that visa on arrival (VOA) fees will soon be increased from Rp. 50,000 to Rp. 1.5 million.
According to Koster, he personally checked with the Minister of Law and Human Rights, who confirmed that the cost of the VOA won't be increased to Rp. 1.5 million. “This is untrue,” he adds. “That's untrue. That’s a lie. Do not believe it.”
Meanwhile, Indonesia has expanded its VoA program to incorporate 16 more countries including Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Thailand.
“After receiving input in the tourism sector, we finally proposed to the central government the resumption of the VoA program to another 16 countries, mostly from Europe,” said the federal government.
March 28 – Bali has extended its VoA to 42 countries
Bali has expanded its Visa-on-Arrival program to incorporate visitors from 43 countries. So far, only 23 countries had been able to benefit from the initiative.
South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, China, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, India, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Seychelles, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Tunisia are presently around the updated VOA list.
With this new move, the federal government anticipates a moderate immediate rise in Bali’s tourism economy for the rest of the year.
Is Bali open for Americans?
Yes, Bali is open for American citizens.
COVID-19 situation in Indonesia

As of today, the nation has reported 6,048,685 positive cases and 156,396 deaths.

Despite becoming an island chain that is roughly the size of the United States, the majority of those people live on a handful of islands in highly urbanized areas.
For lots of people in East Asia, face masks and social distancing are very normal after a lot of contagious diseases in the last two decades. Indonesia hasn't reached that time yet.
The government is attempting everything necessary to maintain complete charge of the pandemic without destroying a lot of Bali's tourism-based economy in the balance.

Bali Reopening Borders – Update Archives
April 13 – 'Back to Bali', a brand new marketing campaign to lure tourists to the island
Bali has launched 'Back to Bali', to massive savings to visitors.
Tourist packages worth as much as AUS 1000 can be bought for AUS 500. “The vacation package includes IDR 5 million in food and beverage credits, IDR 5 million in hotel credits, and IDR 5 million in VIP Finns membership credits.”
Many 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star hotels are participating in the reductions, according to I Gusti Agung Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, who heads the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association for Badung.
Although a summary of hotels has not yet been issued, listed here are some estimated discounts:
- 5-star hotels, IDR 2.5-3 million (US$175-200) per night
- 4-star hotels, IDR2 million (US$140) per night
- 3-star hotels IDR1-1.5 million (US$70-105) per night
March 21 – Bali has lifted ALL quarantine rules for international travelers
Indonesia has finally removed all quarantine requirements for overseas visitors. The decision takes effect immediately, Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno told reporters today.
Visitors will still be necessary to create a negative Covid-19 test result taken within 72 hours of their departure.
The reopening follows a successful two-week trial of quarantine-free visit the islands of Bali, Batam, and Bintan, where the virus spread was minimal, he noted.
“With the handling from the pandemic more controlled- today we announce the policy of no quarantine continues to be expanded across Indonesia,” said Sandiaga.
March 9 – Indonesia has officially removed testing for domestic travelers, quarantine for overseas visitors and reinstates VISA on arrival
Indonesia has lifted PCR and antigen testing for all domestic travelers inside Indonesia, based on Decree Number 11, 2022.
This new norm will affect all people traveling on airlines, land or sea, said the Head of Health Support for the National Covid-19 Handling Task Force, Alexander K Ginting.
Earlier now, the federal government of Bali also lifted the quarantine for those international travelers who've received a booster vaccine and reinstated visas on arrival to tourists from 23 countries.
February 25 – Bali to reinstate VoA and take away Quarantine on arrival
Indonesian top officials have agreed to campaign for that return of visa on arrival (VoA) and the lifting of the mandatory 3-day quarantine.
“The Governor (Wayan Koster) and I agree that we'll both push for a visa on arrival,” said Uno on Wednesday.
According to local news outlets, Bali could remove quarantine at the begining of March.
“It's just a matter of exploring the developments within the next week. When the decline is consistent until it reaches a stable point, I think it is conducive,” said Koster.
February 14 – European travelers are skipping Bali, say local tourism representatives
Bali’s extensive and costly quarantine is constantly on the deter European travelers, according to tourism representatives.
“Europeans aren't interested [in Bali]. [Clients] use the Philippines, the Maldives along with other countries which have dropped their quarantine requirement,” said the managing director of Top Indonesia Holidays.
Panorama Destination's director of business development, expects the federal government to follow charge of other Asian nations that have already lifted the requirement because Bali's quarantine makes trips unnecessarily expensive.
“Tourists need to spend a minimum of US$700 on the Warm-Up Vacation package (a 5D/4N arrangement with select hotels that's part of the Bubble Quarantine Policy). This pushes [tourists] to choose other destinations.”
For now, Singapore airlines will resume operations to Bali on Feb. 16 and Jetstar on Mar. 14.
February 3 – Bali set to receive direct flights under a new reopening strategy from Feb. 4
Starting Feb. 4, Bali will allow fully and partially vaccinated travelers all countries under a new reopening strategy.
This time around, the Grand Hyatt and Westin Resorts in Nusa Dua, the Royal Tulip in Jimbaran, the Griya Santrian in Denpasar, and the Viceroy in Ubud will serve because the facilities where travelers will spend their 5 to 7 day quarantine.
Given the visa-on-arrival program continues to be halted, visitors can apply for an e-visa, that amounted to from USD 295 with respect to the number of processing days (7-14) and the length of the stay.
January 22 – Indonesia removes travel ban on all foreign arrivals but Bali still sees no international flights
The country’s Covid-19 Task Force reported that 14 strongly affected countries happen to be taken off its travel ban list, allowing tourists from Southern African nations along with the UK to go in Bali.
According to government spokesman Wiku Adisasmito, “it will be hard for cross-border movements which are still required to maintain stability, including the national economic recovery,” under the existing restrictions.
Bali continues within the first stage of Phase Three, which means that only passengers from 19 countries are permitted entry, while everybody else must fly to Jakarta or Manado and finish a 7-day quarantine before continuing onto Bali.
January 10 – Bali reduces quarantine from 10 to 7 days
Indonesia has reduced its strict quarantine from 10 to Seven days for international tourists.
Local visitors will even have a reduced quarantine of 10 days.
“It has been decided earlier that the 14-day quarantine will become ten days and the 10-day quarantine will end up seven days,” announced the COVID Czar at a press briefing a week ago.
Bali still struggles to draw in international airlines, to date, only chartered flights have touched down on the area.
December 20 – Bali to implement stricter restrictions from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3
The government has extended public activity restrictions (PPKM) in Bali and Java a minimum of until Jan. 3.
Restaurants, bars and other alike venues in level 1 areas will be able to operate at 75% capacity until 22:00. In level 2, the capability will disappear to 50% and could be open until 21:00. And people in level 3 at 25% capacity until 18:00.
Unvaccinated travelers participating in domestic long travel must present a negative rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours before departure.
In addition, Bali has removed Norway from the list of “green countries.”
December 9 – Bali extends quarantine from Seven to ten days
A few days after reintroducing a 7-day quarantine, Bali authorities have further extended the restriction to Ten days for those allowed travelers visiting from any of the 19 countries the island is available to.
The government has additionally banned all travel from 17 nations including Afghanistan, Botswana, Eswatini, Guinea, Hong Kong, Israel, Kamerun, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Returning nationals from any of those areas must undergo an even tightened quarantine duration of Fourteen days.
December 1 – Bali extended quarantine from three to Seven days for those foreign tourists
The Indonesian government has extended its quarantine restriction for those international arrivals from 3 to Seven days, announced the Coordinator of Maritime and Investment Minister.
In addition, travelers who've been to Hong Kong, Nigeria, Malawi, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho are actually required to undergo Fourteen days of quarantine upon arrival.
“I must admit this will impact our tourism industry as people become more unwilling to travel,” said Bali's Head of Badung Hotel and Restaurant Association.
November 24 – Bali remains open for tourism without any airlines flying towards the islands yet, travel with Australia might resume soon
Five weeks in to the reopening with no airlines decided to resume service to Bali. The “Island of the Gods” hasn't seen any overseas tourists and restaurants, bars and shops remain close.
The limited number of countries permitted to return and also the entry restrictions have deterred both tourists and airlines.
Bali’s governor announced last week that Australian tourists will be able to visit the island as soon as the central government permits it.
But, for the moment, even if the Australian flight carrier decided to come back, Australians could be still barred from entering.
November 3 – Bali could scrap quarantine for foreign tourists, says official
Indonesia's central government is reportedly considering adopting Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) to permit visitors from certain countries to go in the nation without quarantine.
“All from the leaders in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed that people have to be focused on reviving our tourism sector by implementing the VTL program,” said the Minister of Economic Coordination on Thursday.
Another alternative being considered is to shorten quarantine from five to two or 72 hours for that remaining permitted tourists, which so far are just 19 countries.
October 22 – Bali, the earth's less booked destination, based on a study
Bali continues struggling to lure airlines to resume operations towards the island though it reopened for tourism on Oct. 14.
According to data released by the Skyscanner's Horizons report, Bali currently supports the unenviable title to be the world’s less booked destination.
This could explain why airlines still refuse to accept the generous landing discounts offered by the Indonesian government.
Although few airlines have explicitly revealed their plans to restart their plan to Bali, Qantas and Jetstar are reportedly in talks with the Indonesian government about accepting fully vaccinated Australians with a much reduced to no quarantine whatsoever.
September 8 – Bali intends to test its first international travel bubble soon
After countless tries, Bali is able to open its first travel corridor soon, said I Putu Astawa, the top of Bali's Tourism Agency.
Citing the necessity to restart the tourism economy in the area, Astawa confirmed on Sunday that “the government finally intends to test the reopening of the international travel corridor for Bali in the near future.”
He also mentioned that tourism workers have been vaccinated and all accommodation venues were certified within the Clean Health Safety and Environment (CHSE) protocol.
Source: The Bali Sun
August 13 – Bali eases restrictions for vaccinated people
The government extended level-4 restrictions in Bali to curb multiplication of COVID-19. New restrictions come in force a minimum of until August 16.
However, authorities decided to ease the majority of those COVID curbs for fully vaccinated people. Starting in a few days, malls, restaurants, offices, and markets is going to be open for vaccinated individuals several major cities.
“Vaccinated individuals are eligible for more relaxed protocols than unvaccinated ones,” said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin.
“The virus will stay around for very long. We have to possess a guide that anticipates it could take years to eliminate the virus and adopt the appropriate health protocols that will permit us to continue with economic activities inside a safer circumstance.”
Balinese locals deeply disagree with the measure since they haven't been able to get a vaccine. Most of them have jobs in local markets meaning they will not be able to come back to work.
Source: The Australian
July 30 – Indonesia to loosen COVID-19 restrictions on Aug. 2 but Bali has no reopening in sight
President Joko Widodo has confirmed that companies and malls will be allowed to reopen on August 2, regardless of the massive COVID-19 outbreak the country is facing specially in the islands of Java and Bali where hospitals are facing oxygen shortages.
Local media states this decision is made because Bali has experienced the worst with regards to the economy compared to other regions, as tourism has virtually died.
The government had suggested it could reopen Bali at the beginning of August. Instead, it has gone silent about it.
Source: ABC Net
July 15 – Bali launches new “no vax, no fly” policy for foreign visitors
The COVID-19 Task Force has launched a new policy which mandates that all international arrivals must both bring an adverse COVID-19 make sure create a vaccine certificate, otherwise, “no vax, no fly”.
Indonesia’s Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno had announced Bali would reopen in July 2022 to vaccinated tourists. However, a worrisome growing spike in Covid-19 infections has pushed this date back at least for the start of August.
But based on local media, this probably won’t happen either. The Red Cross has warned that Indonesia is “on the edge of catastrophe” because of a rapid increase in Covid-19.
So far, the nation has vaccinated only 5% of its total population, being Bali the island with increased vaccinations per capita.
Source: NZHerald