Bali Arrivals Surge into Record Territory.

(6/20/2008)

While the traditional wisdom in Bali tourism circles is that the months of January – March represent the lowest season for foreign tourist arrivals, figures now in hand for the first three months of 2008 indicate that model may have lost its relevancy.

Bali Numbers Continue to Soar

Month after month, from January through March, Bali foreign arrivals broke into new territory setting new "best ever" levels.

• March foreign arrival to Bali hit 153,216 - +28.58% ahead of March 2007 (119,163). Also worthy of note, March 2007 was the "best ever March" on record until the current March 2008 arrival totals broke new ground.

• Equally impressive, total first quarter (January-March) foreign arrivals to Bali reached 446,553 – that's +24.48% ahead of the same quarter in 2007 (347,310).

Shifting Markets

Looking at the results for the first three months of 2008, the order of "top-producing" markets show the emergence of Mainland China and Malaysia as key contributors to Bali tourism. Bali's top tourist producers for Q1 2008, in order of prominence:

• Japan 94,357

• Australia 57,238

• Taiwan 36,925

• Peoples Republic of China 35,994

• South Korea 31,609

• Malaysia 24,984

European Markets

Looking at European arrivals to Bali as an isolated set, demonstrates the new found importance of the Russian market. Top producers of tourists to Bali from Europe in order of importance for Q1 2008:

• Russia 19,182

• United Kingdom 16,712

• Germany 15,899

• France 13,032

• The Netherlands 11,078

2 Million Visitors in 2008?

If current growth rates are sustained through the remainder of 2008, Bali arrivals will top 2 million for the year.

Presented on Balidiscovery.com are graphics showing historical growth in Bali foreign arrivals for the period January-March 2000-2008.

Arrivals Graphic

click image to enlarge