Having received visits of domestic tourists during the Eid holidays, hotel operators in Bali are now ready to receive visits of foreign tourists. Well, from the end of April 2022 to the beginning of May 2022, domestic tourists continue to move to Bali to celebrate the long Eid holidays announced by the government long ago. It had a positive impact on the hotel business. “We at Grand Ixora Kuta Resort located on Jalan Kartika Plaza Kuta, received abundant fortune where our room occupancy reached 99 percent,” said General Manager of Grand Ixora Kuta Resort, Ketut Gede Budhiratmanu, not long ago.

At that time, the majority of domestic tourists staying overnight came from Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Malang, and even from cities outside Java Island. On average, they stayed for 2-3 days. “That’s because our hotel is located near Ngurah Rai International Airport, close to Kuta Beach, malls as well as water park activities. So, they chose Grand Ixora as their accommodation while on vacation in Bali. “We have increased the rates of the room during the holiday period by 20 percent from the pandemic rates. Thankfully, they were sold out!!!” he said happily.

Most tourists came by using private vehicles where the impact was a long traffic jam along Jalan Kartika Plaza, Kuta Beach, including Jalan Imam Bonjol, the road to Kuta from Denpasar. It is a sight that has not been around since the pandemic. “We provide leeway for checking out until 13:00, breakfast with a set menu of national and international menu choices accompanied by hot coffee and tea as well as mineral water and traditional crackers,” added this man calmly.

The swimming pool at hotel was also open from 08:00 to 22:00, so that all guests could enjoy the sensation of our swimming pool after shopping or a day tour. Even though the Eid al-Fitr holiday is over, domestic tourists still arrive, although they are not as busy as during the Eid period. More interestingly, tourists from Australia, India and some from Europe also come to Bali, and stay at this hotel. “In June, July and August, we have received many bookings from overseas, such as from Australia, India and European countries, as well as from domestic. I am optimistic that Bali tourism will be getting better,” he said.

For this reason, Budhiratmanu hoped that the central government will continue to open tourist arrivals in collaboration with the local government by maintaining discipline in health protocols. This is important to create more job opportunities, improve the regional economy as well as improve people’s lives, especially in areas that were heavily affected by the pandemic, such as Bali.

This four-star hotel located at Jalan Kartika Plaza No.92, Kuta, Badung, Bali, features 134 rooms with superior facilities, such as Jasmine Spa, Bamboo Roras Resto, Pool Bar, and Meeting Room. “As a hotel operator based in the Kuta tourist area, I am very ready to welcome foreign tourists by participating in the Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environmental Sustainability (CHSE) program as a form of service to tourists while living a new era of life by strictly implementing health protocols,” he concluded. (BTN/015)