How Indonesian resort island Bali became a refuge for Ukrainians and Russians

Will it be back to pre-pandemic??


"JAKARTA, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Indonesia is considering granting visa-free entry to nationals of 20 countries, including the United States, China, Australia, India, South Korea, Germany, Britain and France, to boost its tourism and economy, its tourism minister said on Thursday"

"There were more than 16 million foreign arrivals in Indonesia in pre-pandemic 2019, according to official data. From January to October this year, Indonesia received 9.49 million foreign visitors, an increase of 124.3% from the same period in 2022"

Keep in mind this has been the case for pre-pandemic.Also other SE countries like Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines have done that. So If Indonesia wants to compete in attracting more tourists from other countries it will need to see and learn what other countries in SE have been doing.
 
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Will it be back to pre-pandemic?? .....
"There were more than 16 million foreign arrivals in Indonesia in pre-pandemic 2019, according to official data. From January to October this year, Indonesia received 9.49 million foreign visitors, an increase of 124.3% from the same period in 2022"....
This is odd. Traffic congestion now seems infinitely worse than pre pandemic although there have been some six million fewer tourists. In particular Jalan Uluwatu from the Jalan Raya Kampus Unud intersection as one heads south this has become macet almost all day. Not quite sure why unless there are significantly more rentals down that way than before.
 
This is odd. Traffic congestion now seems infinitely worse than pre pandemic although there have been some six million fewer tourists. In particular Jalan Uluwatu from the Jalan Raya Kampus Unud intersection as one heads south this has become macet almost all day. Not quite sure why unless there are significantly more rentals down that way than before.
Time to get out ..
 

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Everyone has moved to Bali that's why. From Jakarta Russia Ukraine etc since Covid and digital nomadism
Only needs a few hundred thousand to fill the streets full time non stop
 
This is odd. Traffic congestion now seems infinitely worse than pre pandemic although there have been some six million fewer tourists. In particular Jalan Uluwatu from the Jalan Raya Kampus Unud intersection as one heads south this has become macet almost all day. Not quite sure why unless there are significantly more rentals down that way than before.
It seems since they reduced purchase tax on vehicles during covid , iv started to see ques at petrol stations like never before in bali , my observation .
 
This is odd. Traffic congestion now seems infinitely worse than pre pandemic although there have been some six million fewer tourists. In particular Jalan Uluwatu from the Jalan Raya Kampus Unud intersection as one heads south this has become macet almost all day. Not quite sure why unless there are significantly more rentals down that way than before.
In Indonesia, nowadays it is very easy to get credit. People could easily get Motorbike with bank credit to be used for rental services, "ojek" using ride-hailing apps.

One minibus on the street could take up to 10 people. It is similar to 10 motor bikes (or five at best) nowadays. No wonder.
 
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The thing is that traffic was already close to saturation before Covigedon in many places.
It took just a few drops after that to have the bucket overflow.

Trends and fashion plays a role also. Look at Cangu, nothing special 5 years ago, now every Russian, surfer, digital nomad, hippie, Youtuber wants to live there.
Prices out of control and traffic is madness.
 
Jakarta is so much better than Bali. Bali is basically my idea of tourist hell, and I haven't even been there for 5 years. [Yes I know there are some less crowded parts too, if you can reach them with all the traffic]
 
Jakarta is so much better than Bali. Bali is basically my idea of tourist hell, and I haven't even been there for 5 years. [Yes I know there are some less crowded parts too, if you can reach them with all the traffic]
I take it you are writing this from an area which is not turned into a flood each times it rains. And do you wear a gas mask? Jakarta's air pollution is hazardous. But then, to each his own. Actually it seems worldwide that everywhere cities, traffic and air pollution is just getting worse and worse. India in particular has cities now where just breathing has become poisonous,
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I take it you are writing this from an area which is not turned into a flood each times it rains.

I think your dislike of Jakarta is showing through. At worst a few places in jakarta have floods for 3-4 hours about twice a year. It rains most days and doesnt flood.
 
I don't think Jakarta's pollution is any worse than any other big city in Asia, including the crowded parts of Bali. And as Ruserious says it floods once or twice a year, if that, and only for a few hours. No-one I know has respiration problems due to pollution, whatever the figures say. Way more people have breathing difficulties because of smoking.
The thing I can't stand in Bali is being treated like a tourist wherever you go (Hey, Boss, want a taxi), constant tourist rip-offs, and also the hoardes of tourists themselves, Russians, Chinese, Bogans - it would drive me mad living there. In Jakarta you can just blend in. I've never once been overcharged in a taxi in over 10 years. The food and entertainment options in Jakarta are excellent. Some of the big malls are amazing. And it's not difficult to drive around if you know what times to go, and what times to avoid.
 
The thing I can't stand in Bali is being treated like a tourist wherever you go (Hey, Boss, want a taxi), constant tourist rip-offs, and also the hoardes of tourists themselves, Russians, Chinese, Bogans - it would drive me mad living there.
Yes, I agree. Specially in Kuta "Hey mr. Massage?". I always answer "Oh. My name not Massage". 🤣
 
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In Jakarta you can just blend in. I've never once been overcharged in a taxi in over 10 years.
My experience last 4 or 5 time with a Bluebird was not good. The driver deliberately took some wrong turns (not because of macet) to make the trip longer and more expensive.
 
My experience last 4 or 5 time with a Bluebird was not good. The driver deliberately took some wrong turns (not because of macet) to make the trip longer and more expensive.
I think that is more often just incompetence, because a lot of them are from Java and they do not know Jakarta very well.
These days you can just follow on Google maps and tell them which roads to take.
 
No tourists in Jakarta hence a bule is assumed to be living there and not so naive
Maybe in a bluebird they might think you there on business from hotel since residents have cars drivers or grab
But yes the new BB drivers are terrible they don't even know GI PI PP etc.
 
Yeah, they're all on Google maps. I got a bit fed up of hearing the loud directions so I asked the driver to turn it off - I could tell him the way.

He reacted like I'd asked him to switch off his targeting computer during the attack on the death star. "Use the force, Lukman".
 
No tourists in Jakarta hence a bule is assumed to be living there and not so naive
Maybe in a bluebird they might think you there on business from hotel since residents have cars drivers or grab
But yes the new BB drivers are terrible they don't even know GI PI PP etc.
Normally I take Grab or Gocar, but sometimes I am forced to take a taxi, because my phone has no "juice" anymore. Happened yesterday .. instead of 40.000 rupiah normally from the golf court to my place I had to pay 100.000 rupiah.
 
I think your dislike of Jakarta is showing through. At worst a few places in jakarta have floods for 3-4 hours about twice a year. It rains most days and doesnt flood.
What about the din 5 times a day , I prefer to get woken by the birds
 
I first came to Bali 48 years ago. I do concede it has changed a bit since then. Whatever the disadvantages, being on the pension one can live here comfortably. Australia seems to be heading back, for many people, to a period like the great depression with unaffordable housing and ever increasing cost of living. If AI and robotization takes off in the next five years, as I suspect it will, it seems probable that unemployment will also jump.
 

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