Jakarta – Indian tourists represent the second-largest foreign tourist market for Bali. To boost Indian tourist visits to Bali, direct flights are on the horizon.

Bali stands as the favored destination for Indian tourists exploring Indonesia, with a substantial 288 thousand Indian tourists arriving in Bali by August 2023. With this impressive number, India becomes a crucial market for Bali, following closely behind Australia.

Despite this, there are currently no direct flights connecting India to Bali. Indian tourists typically reach Bali via flights with layovers in Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or Singapore.

In response to this scenario, Sandiaga Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, revealed ongoing efforts to explore direct flights from India to Jakarta and Denpasar. These endeavors have spanned nearly six months, with positive responses from Vistara and Indigo airlines.

“We have coordinated with Vistara and Indigo and received very positive responses,” Sandiaga stated, as quoted by detikBali.

This optimistic signal suggests that India-Bali flights are not an impossibility. However, Sandiaga has not provided specific dates for the commencement of these flights.

“We hope that flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Jakarta and Denpasar can open up opportunities for more Indian tourists to visit Indonesia,” he added.

Further elaborating, Sandiaga highlighted the affinity between Indian tourists and Bali, citing shared cultural aspects.

“Indian tourists are very interested because (Bali) is a wedding destination, sharing similarities in culture, beautiful landscapes, and vibrant traditions,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, Head of the Bali Tourism Department, emphasized ongoing coordination with India to ensure the safety and comfort of tourists during their Bali visits.

“In addition to the shared culture, we want Indian tourists to explore Bali safely and comfortably,” he stated.