Bali tourism unaffected by Indonesia's revocation of visa-free entry: governor

By Hoang Phong June 30, 2023 | 05:11 pm PT

A police officer talks with tourists in front of the Bali Bomb Monument in Indonesia in 2016. Photo by Reuters

Indonesia's popular tourist island Bali is fully booked until August as the government reassured its tourism industry has not been affected by the revocation of visa-free entry.

"So far, we have not witnessed any problems that have hindered Bali's tourism numbers," Bali Governor I Wayan Koster said, as cited by Antara news agency.

Bali is experiencing an increase in international tourist visits, he added.

A total of 16,246 tourists visited the island in the first week of June. He added that the number continued to increase by 4% each day until June 22.

Indonesia from June 7 stopped visa-free entry for citizens of 159 countries and territories amid concerns about disruption of public order and potential transmission of diseases.

Since 2016, Indonesia had waived visa requirements for travelers from 169 countries, including all 10 ASEAN members.

Only nationals of those ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, still remain exempt from the visa requirement.