Denpasar, Jan. 22 (BNA): A direct flight from China touched down on the Indonesian resort island of Bali for the first time in nearly three years on Sunday after the route was suspended due to the pandemic.
At least 210 people were on board the chartered plane operated by Indonesia’s Lion Air from Shenzhen in southern China’s Guangdong Province.
Some Chinese tourists arriving at the airport in Bali said they were happy to have the opportunity to travel internationally again after China ended its strict coronavirus restrictions.
“I feel very happy and relaxed. It’s been a long time that we haven’t traveled abroad,” said An Bai, a Chinese tourist who was on the plane.
The trip followed the Chinese government’s decision to lift travel restrictions announced on January 8, and coincided with the start of the Lunar New Year, which was celebrated on Sunday, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The Shenzhen to Bali line will operate once a week during its initial phase, according to a statement from Danang Mandala Priantoro, a Lion Air spokesperson.
Indonesia targets 255,000 tourists from China in 2023. Indonesia recorded 94,924 visits from China from January to October 2022. More than 2 million tourists from China had visited Indonesia every year before the outbreak of the epidemic.
The return of Chinese tourists is expected to support the overall target of foreign tourist arrivals this year. Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Ono said in a statement on Friday that Indonesia aims to record 3.5 million to 7.4 million outbound visits. China is one of the largest inbound tourism markets in Indonesia.
“Based on the data of online travel agents in China, there was a 430% increase in search volume for overseas tourist destinations. Indonesia ranks in the top 5 searches, and Bali search volume increased by 250%,” Ono said.
Indonesia’s government is exploring ways to attract more Chinese tourists, including the possibility of direct flights from three major cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
HF