According to Conde Nast Travellers Bali is set to reopen its borders to international tourists from September 11, 2020 with a new set of rules as part of its three-phased plan to restore the island’s economy.
The Governor of Bali I Wayan Koster signed a new decree on the ‘New Era of Life Order Protocol’ as the island prepares to reopen its market to tourists but with a “strict health protocol” in place while a mass prayer was held earlier this month with more than a thousand people attending the prayer at Besakih Hindu temple in Bali’s town of Karangasem, seeking blessings for the start of a “new normal”.
Bali’s three-phase reopening plan kicks off on July 9 with the local administration allowing some businesses such as health services, fishing, restaurants, modern markets and finance to operate while tourism activities will start in Phase 2 which will kick-off at the end of next week on 31 July when Indonesians will be allowed to visit the island. The final phase is when the island opens to international visitors starting from September 11, however, it has yet to release details on whether travelers from all countries will be allowed in and whether quarantine or testing will be mandatory.
Tourism is the island’s main source of income which suffered great losses due to the months of travel restrictions to curb the spread of the corona-virus. The occupancy rate at popular hotels in Bali dropped to 2.07 percent in May, according to Bali statistics bureau data, from 62.55 percent in December before the pandemic hit.
