Bali will remained closed to international tourists through the end of the year
Editor's Note
After reports that Bali might open its doors to international travelers as early as Sept. 11, Bali's governor, Wayan Koster, said the island will remain closed until 2021 due to the "rising level of coronavirus cases," according to Reuters.
Bali's vice-governor, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, called COVID-19 "the most devastating disaster for Bali tourism," CNN Travel reported.
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Sukawati, who is also the former chair of Bali's hotel and restaurant association, said the pandemic's economic affect on the tourism industry is "much worse than the Bali bombings, both the first and the second, and worse than all the [2017] Mount Agung eruptions combined."
Related: Here's what the Mount Agung volcano eruption looked like from the ground
For many reasons, the popular Indonesian island destination is eager to welcome back visitors. But a number of roadblocks bar the path.
[table-of-contents /]
Planning A visit to Bali? Read this first
Bali closed the doors on its primary industry early on in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and Bali's governor commented in May 2020 that "a lot of people were previously very worried that Bali would be badly hit by COVID-19 as it's the largest tourist destination in Indonesia."
Quick action and careful preventative measures, however, ended up painting "a totally different picture," as Bali has only seen about 4,500 cases despite Indonesia's COVID-19 numbers hovering around the 155,000-mark across a total population of 267 million.
Indonesia currently has the highest number of COVID-related deaths in the region (6,700) as of the time of publication. Governor Koster said in a statement the "situation in Indonesia isn't conducive to allow international tourists to visit the country, including Bali."
The country as a whole is still observing strict lockdown procedures in many areas. So, even though Bali is once again open for domestic tourism, international visitors will have to wait until the country reopens its borders to outsiders.
Assuming all the stars align by 2021, Bali will need to continue to keep its COVID case numbers low in order to make international tourism viable. Thus, many of the safety protocols in place may not feel particularly vacation-friendly.
Related: A country-by-country reopening guide
How to get there ... if you can
Garuda Indonesia announced new direct routes in July that would operate between Bali and the U.S., France and India.
"The only way to boost foreign tourist visits is by introducing direct flights to Bali," said Irfan Setiaputra, president of the Indonesian flag carrier. The airline executive stated that both the Indonesian Tourism Ministry as well as Garuda Indonesia are aligned on the need for direct flights between Bali and Los Angeles, San Francisco, Paris, Mumbai and New Delhi in order to drive higher numbers of tourists.
But the airline and the tourism board don't seem to be aligned on timing. As of late August, Indonesia's borders are still closed to outsiders and will remain closed through the end of the year.
Related: How to use Google Flights to plan your next trip
Bali has historically been a beloved destination for TPG staffers and readers alike. Check out our past posts on some of our favorite hotel properties in the region, including the Amankila, the Conrad Bali and the Ritz-Carlton Bali.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees