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Bali is rapidly becoming more popular among European tourists, according to the latest travel data.
Bali, the Island of the Gods, has long been a popular holiday destination for Australian tourists, and this year it appears the island has taken the top spot among European visitors too.
With international flights to Bali now more available than ever, it’s clear why the island is quickly becoming a must-visit destination for European tourists.
Bali has been a much-loved destination for European travellers for decades, many of whom visit the island as part of their backpacking adventures or honeymoon trips.
Now Bali is becoming an annual summer holiday destination for European tourists.
Ghufron, who is also director of the Bali Sales and Marketing Community (BASACOMM), explained to reporters that as Bali enters high season, the number of tourists of all ages is increasing.
Mr Guffron said tourist numbers from Australia were expected to grow by 30 per cent this year, with travel trends from Europe following suit.
“This means that Bali continues to move for the Australian market as well. Apart from Australia, tourists from Europe are also likely to visit Bali. Similar to Germany, tourists from Europe are set to grow by 14.23 percent in 2024,” said Guffron.
Guffron noted that while air traffic to Bali is increasing, there is a need for more direct flights from major European cities to Bali to keep up with these travel trends.
He said: “Actually, the challenge right now is air travel. Airfares are very expensive, especially in Europe. So we need policies from the government.”
Travel experts shared their suggestions for the industry to make the most of growing demand from European tourists to travel to Bali.
He noted that while there are plenty of direct flights from major cities across Australia, including Perth, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, it is difficult for most European tourists to fly to Bali without connecting flights.
“BASACOMM has indicated that more direct flights are needed. There are certainly direct flights from Qatar, Turkey, Singapore and elsewhere, but they are still very scarce,” Guffron said.
Most tourists flying to Bali from Western and Central Europe have to make a transfer before flying out again to the Island of the Gods.
The most affordable and frequent connection for European tourists is Dubai, which has daily flights to Bali.
Some people will transit through Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Singapore before catching a short flight to Denpasar.
These connections add additional travel time and often directly increase the cost of travel.
Tourists from most European countries can travel to Bali, and throughout Indonesia, with a 30-day visa on arrival.
The visa costs 500,000 Indonesian Rupiah and can be paid on arrival or arranged in advance through the Indonesian e-Visa website.
Tourists from 97 countries are eligible to obtain an e-visa on arrival, which will allow them to use the newly installed automated gates at Bali’s Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport.
The availability of automated gates during the upcoming peak season will save tourists time as they will be able to complete immigration procedures in just a few seconds.
It’s no surprise that Bali is becoming increasingly popular among European tourists, who are on a mission to promote the island as a destination where tourists can stay for an extended period of time.
With the average tourist stay in Bali being three to five days, with many visitors staying over long weekends, the island is making efforts to encourage tourists to stay longer and spend more money.
For European tourists, it is very difficult to visit Bali for only a few days, as there is a lot to explore, so a stay of 10 to 14 days is the best duration to rest, rejuvenate and explore the best that the island has to offer during your vacation.
