A Decade of Growth - International Arrivals in Bali Between 2015-2024
It’s easy to see that Bali’s tourism industry is thriving, but have you ever wondered how many people visit the island each year? The island is home to nearly 5 million residents, but in the last decade, there have been several years where it receives more international visitors than it has residents. Ngurah Rai International Airport gave us a clearer picture by sharing a decade’s worth of data on international arrivals between the years of 2015-2024. Considering that 80% of the economy relies on tourist related activities, the lows and highs we see in these figures tell a story of both survival and success.
The diverse landscapes, including beaches, volcanoes, rice fields, and tropical forests, attract global tourists to Bali.
2015-2019: On the Rise
From 2015-2019, the number of international arrivals at Bali’s airport grew from roughly 4,2 million in 2015 to 6.5 million in 2019. This significant increase can be attributed to the use of Instagram showcasing the island’s beauty, a larger number of remote workers, an increase in tourists from China, as well as the expansion of luxury resorts and villas. That being said, the tourism industry was already alive and well prior to 2015. In actual fact, Bali has been an international tourist hub for decades - even as early as the 1930s - but gained significant attention in the 1970s, and went on to be much more frequented in the 1990s-2000s.
2020-2022: The Pandemic Impact and Recovery
If you were on the island during CoVID-19 pandemic, it’s likely you saw the difficult challenges anyone working in the tourism industry had to go through. In 2020, international arrivals plummeted to approximately 1.1 million, and by 2021, the picture was looking much starker, with only 46 international visitors in the whole year. This, of course, does not account for all the international visitors on the island during 2021. Essential business travellers were actually able to enter Bali with a special invitation, but most of them did so via Jakarta to then fly to Bali domestically. Nevertheless, the number of international visitors to the island was considerably lower than in all previous years of the decade.
As a global tourist destination, Bali was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With international travel restrictions, tourism experienced a drastic decline. Many hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions were forced to close.
2023-2024: Making A Comeback
Although there were major concerns that Bali would never be able to account for the losses during the pandemic, Bali’s recovery has been quick and mighty. International arrivals rose to 5.6 million in 2023, showing that Bali was ready to make a comeback similar to its pre-pandemic status as a worldwide tourist destination. Arguably, 2024 has proved that, with 6.17 million arrivals landing in Bali this year without even accounting for those who are yet to visit in December 2024. The number of international arrivals during this month could reach between 500,000 to 900,000, which would make 2024 the year with the highest number of visitors in the whole decade.
More On the Numbers:
The figures in this article are for all visa types, from those with KITAS, tourist visa, business visa and Indonesian visitors from overseas. The wide range of visitors with different purposes suggests a good mix of both long and short term visitors.
The most common visitors were Australia, China, India, France, South Korea, the UK, the US, Malaysia, New Zealand and the Netherlands.
In 2023, there were roughly 15 million domestic and international tourists who paid the island a visit.
The large number of international visitors means that tourism related investments are still relevant, although it’s clear that rapid development means that competition has increased.
Forecasts suggest that December 2024 will witness tourist arrivals ranging between 560,000 and 850,000. This estimate is based on historical growth rates and reflects the island's ongoing appeal to both domestic and international travelers.
Bali’s Tourism Industry:
The data shows that Bali’s tourism industry is still robust despite all the challenges, and as a result, many businesses serving tourists are still highly profitable. However, if you’re considering investing in a tourism-related business in Bali, it’s important to understand the factors involved in Bali remaining the tourist haven it is. These issues range from policies regarding infrastructure, tourism, air connectivity and environmental preservation. If you’d like to read more on these topics, visit our Bali Solve news section to learn more of recent developments, (link news section) or for professional consulting regarding your Bali based venture, don’t hesitate to contact us via Whatsapp to book an appointment.
Written by Team Bali Solve
18 December 2024
