Ep 199: Will Bali's Tourism Bounce-back Continue in 2024?, with the Bali Hotels Association

Bali has bounced back impressively over the past year for international and domestic arrivals - but will that momentum endure as regional competition intensifies in 2024? This week, Bali introduces the International Tourism Levy, which must be paid in addition to the visa-on-arrival fee. Could this impact tourist numbers?

To help us piece together the details and discuss the tourism outlook, Gary and Hannah welcome back Simona Chimenti and Melina Caruso of the Bali Hotels Association. We recap Bali’s vital statistics from 2023 and the top visitor markets, plus we look at efforts to encourage Indonesian travellers in specific segments to stay local rather than head overseas. We analyse the current status of two mega-markets, India and China, touch on new flight services and key issues such as booking windows and seasonality.

Plus, when and how do visitors pay the International Tourism Levy? What’s the latest news about the proposed Bali railway? And what steps are hotels taking to tackle plastic trash and food waste across the island?