Arrivals Numbers that Continue to Amaze

(6/28/2004)

Direct foreign arrivals via Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport for May 2004 demonstrate increasingly brighter prospects for a buoyant tourist market. In fact, if arrivals continue their current trend, Bali's direct foreign arrivals over the coming few months stand poised to set all-time records on a month to month comparison basis.

Back With A Vengeance

May 2004's arrivals total of 117,191 represents a 144.9% boost from the same month just a year before when Iraqi war jitters and SARS concerns kept many at home.

Comparing total arrivals for January to May 2004 (516,475) with the same period the year before shows an improvement of 70.9% and a total only 1.75% behind the January to May 2002 period – a bumper "harvest year" in terms of tourist arrivals until the market suddenly collapsed following the October 2002 Bali bombing.

Perhaps most heartening in the latest Bali arrival figures for January to May is the fact that they are roughly on a par with totals achieved in 1999 and 2000, suggesting recovery – at least in terms of total arrivals – may be nearly complete.

A Note of Caution

While there's much cause for joy in the latest arrival tallies, more detailed figures in coming installments of Bali by the Numbers will demonstrate major shifts in market mix that have also resulted in major reductions in the average length of stay for Bali visitors and lower average spends per visitor.

Stay tuned!