Bali's July 2006 Arrivals a Mixed Bag

(8/14/2006)

Overall Monthly Arrivals to Bali

Direct foreign arrivals to Bali for July 2006 totaled 121,988 - an +11.25% percent increase over the previous month although lagging a dramatic -23.01% behind July 2005's record setting arrivals (158,453).

As graphically presented on balidiscovery.com, July's 2006 arrivals are following seasonality patterns in foreign arrivals by tracking an upward trend May through July. Also interesting are indications that Bali's recovery following the October 2005 bombing may be flatter and less pronounced than the Islands comeback following the October 2002 terrorist attack.

Japanese Arrivals

Japan continues to be Bali's number one source of foreign visitors with 23,882 Japanese landing in Bali in July 2006, continuing an upward trend supported by Japan Airline's return to full Japan-Bali schedules.

Japanese arrivals at 23,832 in July were down -33.46% from the same month one year before (35,817). Encouraging is the fact that the Japanese recovery following the 2005 bombing appears much more robust than the Japanese return to Bali after the 2002 bombing.



Australian Arrivals

Traditionally the second largest source of Bali foreign arrivals, the Australian slipped into third place for July producing only 12,521 visitors – a figure down a massive -57.19% from the record level of Australians who visited in July 2005 (29,249). No less concerning, Australian arrival actually declined from June to July, underlining the doldrums of Australian visitors during what is traditionally a peak season from that market.

Local observers are predicting a more rapid recovery from Australia with the launch of cheap fares to Bali by JetStar, set to start flying in late 2006, and increases in flight frequencies from Western Australia by Garuda to meet growing demand.



Taiwanese Arrivals

Taiwan moved into the number two slot in the rankings of foreign arrivals to Bali in July, racking up 17,501 visitors for July. This total is a scant -2.59% decline from July 2005 (17,912).

Taiwanese arrivals are expected to continue to improve over the coming months demonstrating a virtual full recovery from that market.



South Korean Arrivals

South Korean arrivals in July tallied 6,166 – a total -28.46% behind the same month in 2005 (8,619).



The Rest of the World

The next installment of Bali by the Numbers will take a closer look at Bali arrivals for July 2006, including some encouraging signs of recovery from the European and American markets.