Government Reopens Bali Airport for International Flights

That increase correlated heavily with USA Government’s lifting its travel warning back in 2008. Since 2011, however, direct flights from China have played a more important role in Bali tourism than the US’s concern over the safety of its citizen. That year marked the day when for the first time China outranked Japan as the second biggest tourist exporter to Bali after Australia.

In 2013, 57.48% of tourists came from Asia Pacific (excluding those from South East Asia region that has its own category), followed by Europe with 22.19%, South East Asia countries (ASEAN) with 12.11%, and America 4.8% respectively. The rest is shared between African and Middle Eastern countries.

Indeed, statistically, China still has a long way to go before it can dethrone Australia as number one. However, given the increasing globetrotting trend in China, and love-hate relationships Australia has with Indonesia and Bali in particular (Schapelle Corby, anyone?), this is just a matter of “When?”, instead of “How?” Please also note that in 2013 alone, the total number of Chinese tourists is only half of the tourists from European countries combined together.

What Does It Mean to Bali Tourism?
We all need to study Mandarin that’s for sure. According to CNN, no less than 30,000 Chinese tourists came to the island last Lunar New Year (Year of the Whores Horse) and injected no less than 90 Million Dollars to Bali’s economy.
According to the same report, the Indonesia tourism board is currently trying to have reached a target of 1 million Chinese tourists by the end of 2014.
Boom. That’s a potential Bali tourism boom’s Second Coming, right there.
Soon, we may hear a lot of freelance drivers speaking broken Chinese instead of English everywhere in the island. Hotels, restaurants and clubs in Bali will need to carve special plans just to cater to these deep-pocketed, big spending and big-tipping Asians’ needs. Bali will need Mandarin-speaking tour guides and language teachers more than ever.

What Does it Mean to Real Estate Business?
Given that the real estate and property business is always being an offshoot of the Bali tourism industry, everything that happens in the latter will impact the former, sooner or later.

Today, we may not see a lot of Chinese buying property in Bali. However, I can already imagine, the makeshift signs placed by local makelar on electricity poles offering land for sale, villa for sale or villa for rent will have another space that reads 土地出售, 別墅出售 and 別墅出租 respectively. Yes, the day when those big-spender realize that instead of spending their vacation in hotels, they could do it in their own villas and make money off of it (by renting it to another party for example), a fierce property hunt will begin.

Property agencies need to anticipate this market shift before it’s happening. Forget the Australians and Europeans! (Well, not completely) Here comes the Chinese!

The Big Picture
Bali tourism industry could ride this ongoing trend to help build what many believe as a lack of infrastructure distribution.  The challenge is to provide a better service for everyone amid the widening cultural diversities. As a consequence, using the current tourists’ divisions: (Asians in the greater Sanur area, Westerners in the greater Kuta area) won’t suffice anymore. New tourism hubs need to be opened. Speaking of which, would you believe if I tell you that Sanur was once THE ONLY tourist hub/point of entry in Bali?

Cultural exchange, not only with locals, but fellow tourists from another cultural background can also be a great experience one could expect from having a vacation. This can be a key feature to promote Bali tourism further, beyond its natural and cultural beauty.
Of course, there’s still 50% chance that the upward trends of Chinese traveling to Bali are short-lasting. But still, doing nothing about a factor that, for example, was able to generate a staggering $4.04 billion to the Australian economy in 2013, would be a stupid thing to do.
For the Bali tourism industry, the rule of thumb is to ride the tide while it lasts, and while it’s there, make it lasts just a little bit longer.

Photo by ANOC

The biannual event is expected to attract more than 1,500 athletes from over 100 countries and 205 National Olympic Committees (NOC), as well as various sports organization stakeholders. These include the President of ANOC Robin Mitchel, WADA World Anti-Doping Agency President Witold Banka, and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach.

Compared to its predecessor, the Qatar World Beach Games, which had 1,200 athletes from 97 NOCs, 13 disciplines, and 110 medals, the Bali World Beach Games is seeing significant growth in several aspects.

Photo by ANOC

The event will be held across four clusters, namely Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Kuta, and Canggu, with the opening venue yet to be confirmed. However, most events will be held in Nusa Dua and Jimbaran.

The Indonesian NOC chief hopes that locals from Bali will also participate and help make the event a success. Still recovering from the recent pandemic, the World Beach Games Bali 2023 is expected to boost tourism in the region, marking a much-needed revival of the industry.

How World Beach Games Bali 2023 Will Impact Bali

Bali has been a popular location for various global events such as concerts, art exhibits, conferences, and sports events. Recently, the G20 presidency in 2022 was a significant event that had a profound impact on Bali's economy. The G20 Summit was responsible for a considerable economic boost in Bali in the third quarter of 2022, and it had a ripple effect on the tourism industry at all levels.

During a media briefing, Sandiaga Uno, the Minister of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, announced that Bali's economy had seen substantial growth of up to eight percent YoY during the third quarter of 2022 compared to the previous quarter's three percent. He also stated that the G20 Summit in Bali was a strong driver for the recovery of Indonesia's tourism sector. The number of domestic and international travelers that attended the summit reached 20,559 people, and Bali's daily arrivals now average 24,009.

Bali attracts more international arrivals as more events are also held in Bali.

Photo by yanalya on Freepik

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA) reported that last year's occupancy rate was only around 20 percent, but it has since surged to almost 70 percent. Additionally, 80 percent of the staff shortage caused by the pandemic layoffs has been resolved.

Nyoman Shuida, an expert staff member for the Utilization of Maritime Resources at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, commented that the G20 Summit had a maximum and direct impact on society. It increased foreign tourists from 1.8 million to 3.6 million and generated 600,000 to 700,700 new jobs, mainly in the culinary, fashion, and craft sectors.

Rental businesses should prepare for the influx of international arrivals.

Photo by Bali Home Immo

As the World Beach Games Bali 2023 approaches, it is anticipated that a new wave of international visitors will return, providing a significant boost to Bali's economy, including the rental business. This is particularly crucial for the four cluster areas where the event will take place, namely Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Kuta, and Canggu.

1. Museum Pasifika

Image from museum-pasifika.com 

Located in Nusa Dua, Museum Pasifika’s collection is mainly from the Asia Pacific region, with over 600 collections by 200 artists from 25 countries, including Indonesia. The eleven pavilions include representations of Indonesian, Italian, Dutch, Indo-European, Exhibition, Indochina, Polynesian, Pacific, Tapa, and Asian cultures. Although Museum Pasifika is relatively new to the museum scene in Bali, it is a significant showcase for APAC arts on the island.

Aside from painting, the Museum Pasifika also exhibits Balinese paintings, contemporary art, and paintings by European artists inspired by Balinese paintings. The museum's broad collections offer various perspectives on Asian and Pacific arts, making it a must-visit cultural destination in Bali.

2. Agung Rai Museum of Arts

            Image from https://www.armabali.com/museum/

Founded in 1996 by Agung Rai, he is a Balinese who devoted himself to preserving and developing Balinese culture and art. Located in the cultural hub of Bali, Ubud, the Agung Rai Museum of Arts is more than just a place to exhibit Balinese art; it also promotes Balinese art. ARMA collections range from traditional to contemporary art, including the pieces of the Kamasan Collection, masterpieces from Batuan artists of the 30s and 40s, and the exclusive collection from the 19th-century Javanese artists Raden Saleh and Syarif Bustaman. 

In addition, the Agung Rai Museum of Arts exhibits the collections of legendary Balinese painters: I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, Ida Bagus Made, Anak Agung Gede Sobrat, and I Gusti Made Deblog. Agung Rai Museum of Arts is not your regular museum but also a walk-through of Balinese culture, as ARMA hosts theatre performances, seminars, and a library.

3. Le Mayeur Museum 

Image from https://puritempodoeloesanur.com/highlight/museum-la-mayeur/

Located in Sanur, Le Meyeur was home to Belgian artist Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merpres and his Balinese wife, Ni Pollok. This museum is an example of beautiful Balinese architecture, facing directly to the beautiful Sanur Beach. The house has five rooms that are available to visit. Each room tells a different story about Meyeur’s love for his wife. 

The museum brings this love story to life with preserved inanimate objects. Original antique furniture, historical photographs, and an impressive collection of stone and wood carvings add a special touch. It has transformed from a family home into one of the most famous museums in Bali.

The unique point of the Le Meyeur museum is that each room depicts Le Meyeur's dedication to his wife, Ni Pollok, as you walk through each room. Le Meyeur’s paintings are mainly depictions of his daily life in Bali.

4. Bali Museum

Image taken from https://bali.com/places/bali-museum/

For those interested in Balinese culture and history, the Bali Museum is a must-visit destination in Bali. Located in the capital city of Bali, Denpasar, the Bali Museum features a comprehensive artifacts collection that shows the island’s rich heritage since a while ago; exhibits include ancient stone carvings, traditional textiles, ceremonial masks, and archaeological finds. 

Bali Museum is a prominent museum in the museum scene in Bali. It was initially built in 1910, but it was wrecked in an earthquake accident in 1917 and managed to be rebuilt three years later.

The collection in the Bali Museum varies from the Mesolithic Age up to the modern age. Bali Museum’s building consists of the temple (puri), divided into three sections: kahyangan, pura, and merajan. The exhibition area is divided into Tabanan, Karangasem, and Buleleng. In those areas, visitors can find various items from the prehistoric phase, such as ancient texts, porcelain statues, ceramics, and agricultural tools.

5. Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppet

Image taken from https://www.maskandpuppets.com

Established in 2006, Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppets keeps various kinds of masks and puppets from different regions in Indonesia and worldwide. Located in Ubud, this museum is located amidst the beautiful rice paddy field view, lush garden, and traditional Balinese village. 

Setia Darma House of Mask and Puppets has over 1,000 mask collections and over 5,000 puppets, including traditional puppets from Indonesia, Wayang Golek, and Wayang Kulit. The mask collection originates from Indonesia, Africa, and Japan, while the puppets hail from Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Every mask carries its own unique story.

The Satria Dharma Mask and Puppet Museum is essential for those who value traditional performance art from Indonesia and the globe.