Is Bali still safe for tourists? Officials say yes despite unrest across Indonesia
Following violent protests across Indonesia, the island’s leaders have sought to reassure wary travellers and vowed to maintain the peace
While Australia and other governments have issued warnings to travellers, industry officials and authorities on the island say these are precautionary and do not amount to travel bans.
“A travel warning is a normal thing, a notification of the current situation,” Indonesian Travel Agencies Association chairman Putu Winastra was quoted as saying by local news outlet Bali Post on Monday. “A travel warning is just a reminder and appeal to be careful. It’s not forbidden.”
“This morning an agent in Spain asked me, and I told them Bali is safe,” he said, adding that there had not been a surge in booking cancellations or a drop in tourist arrivals.
The Australian government updated its Smartraveller advisory on Monday, warning: “Large protests with potential to escalate into violence and property damage are occurring across major cities in Indonesia, including Denpasar, Bali, causing disruption and impacting local traffic movements.” The advisory stopped short of urging Australians to cancel travel plans.