Bali hoping for Lebaran domestic tourist boom as hotel occupancy rate remains low

The Bali Provincial Government says it’s hoping that the island will receive some Eid holiday blessing to prop up its struggling tourism industry.

Vice Governor Tjokorda Oka Arta Ardana Sukawati, who is popularly known as Cok Ace, said that while Bali has welcomed an increasing number of tourists since it reopened internationally in March, the island’s overall average hotel occupancy rate is still at around 10 percent.

“Some hotels are recording 50 to 80 percent occupancy rates, but those are only a few hotels in Nusa Dua,” Cok Ace said.

Bali may need to continue relying on domestic tourists, Cok Ace added, and the upcoming Lebaran holiday for Eid may boost the numbers.

The provincial government is betting on Bali becoming the primary holiday destination for Indonesians who are not taking part in the annual tradition known as mudik, during which millions travel to their hometowns for the long holiday. 

The last time Bali saw a domestic tourist boom was for the Christmas and New Year holiday at the end of 2021.

“Then, [the number of domestic arrivals] touched 12,000 to 13,000 per day. I think that for this Lebaran, because it’s such a long holiday, it could reach 18,000 per day,” Cok Ace said.

Eid is expected to fall on May 2. However, the government has mandated that the holiday period will span from April 29 to May 6, including collective leave days.