The Indonesian government plans to attract “winterers” and “digital nomads” to Bali, as well as “spiritual tourists” instead of ordinary beach tourists. Now they say at the ball: sun, sea, and sand – forget about them. The reason, however, is quite practical – the island relies on tourists who have a longer stay and higher costs. Such plans were made by the island authorities before the Kovid, but then they were interrupted by a pandemic.
According to government plans, ecological and “spiritual” tourism, sporting events, and a special five-year visa for remote workers should return 3.6 million foreign travelers to Bali when the borders reopen. This was stated by the Minister of Tourism Sandiaga Uno. That should help create more than 1 million jobs for Indonesians, he added.
“In the past, the three whales of our tourism were: sun, sea, and sand. We are counting on new trends – they will give way to peace, spirituality, and resilience. In this way, we get the best quality and the best impact on the local economy, “Uno told Bloomberg. He recalled that most of Bali’s travel restrictions had been lifted and that tourist incomes had jumped 500% to 111,000 in April, the highest monthly figure since the pandemic.
“Simplified visa processing and more frequent flights should help the country attract global employees who allow their people to work from anywhere.
“About 95% of the digital nomads surveyed said that Indonesia, especially Bali, is their ‘main’ place for remote work and they are ready to travel,” Mr. Uno added.
He recalled that the ministry had been considering a special visa for remote workers and business travelers since early 2021, but the plan was again thwarted by the revival of the coronavirus, strict border controls, and the lack of flights. The visa will allow its holders to remain tax-free for five years if they do not receive their income in Indonesia.