Number of foreign tourist arrivals to Bali, Indonesia 2012-2021

In 2021, only 51 foreign tourists visited Bali. This was the lowest number of visitors since decades. The drop in foreign tourists was caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which had essentially paralyzed the tourism sector in Bali.

Tourism as the main economic driver in Bali

Tourism is Bali’s main economic driver, and Bali is the center of Indonesia’s tourism industry. Its economy is predominantly service based, especially those geared towards tourism and hospitality. In 2019, Bali accounted for just under a fifth of Indonesia's accommodation rooms in the entire country. The heavy reliance on international tourism had worked up till 2019, when foreign tourist arrivals to Bali grew year-on-year.

Impact of COVID-19 on tourism in Bali

Global travel restrictions due to the pandemic meant that the number of foreign arrivals to Bali all but stopped. Bali's biggest foreign tourism feeder market, Australia, had imposed a ban on overseas travel. In March 2020, Bali closed itself to both domestic and foreign visitors. Plans to open the island to international visitors have been pushed back due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia. To throw the ailing Balinese economy a lifeline, however, the island has been re-opened to domestic tourists and foreigners already in the country.