Bali to seek more direct flights from China on border reopening

Indonesia is planning more flights and social media campaign to lure Chinese tourists to Bali to capitalise on the international reopening of borders for Asia’s largest economy earlier this month. The South-East Asian country will enable direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to Denpasar and intensify its TikTok campaign for the top holiday destination, according to the government. "We can’t deny that our 2023 foreign tourist arrival goal will also depend on Chinese tourists,” Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said in a briefing on Tuesday (Jan 24), adding that Lion Air, Batik Air and a Chinese airline were among those preparing scheduled flights between China and the island. Indonesia joins most South-East Asian countries in welcoming back tourists from China. The region has been especially welcoming to them in contrast to the US, Italy and Japan that have instead tightened travel restrictions on concerns of China’s rising Covid-19 infections. In a sign of strong support for the Chinese travellers, Bali governor I Wayan Koster personally welcomed a Lion Air chartered flight from Shenzen carrying 210 passengers on Sunday, marking the return of the tourists to the island for the first time in three years. President Joko Widodo, who removed all remaining Covid curbs at the end of last year in Indonesia, said that local vaccination coverage and antibody levels were high enough to prevent a resurgence in infections. He has repeatedly said the government would not impose restrictions on Chinese tourists. Still, Chinese tourists are not likely to come in droves, yet. A survey published last week found that about 40% of Chinese travellers aren’t planning to venture overseas this year despite the sudden easing of restrictions, mainly because of the financial impact of Covid-19 on salaries and the economy.<br/>