The Indonesian Tour Operators Association (ASITA) has urged the authorities to introduce long-term subsidies for airline tickets to make travel more affordable and support the growth of domestic and international tourism. ASITA Chairperson Rusmiati notes that the current seasonal discounts do not have a significant effect — prices need to be reduced all year round. Additionally, the association proposes tax benefits for the industry and the lifting of restrictions on business events, to enable the island to host conferences and exhibitions more frequently.
The initiative was supported by President Prabowo Subianto: he instructed the relevant ministries to expand the list of airports receiving international flights and strengthen direct air connections with foreign countries.
Meanwhile, the flight network is growing. From June 25, Indonesia AirAsia will launch direct flights from Adelaide to Denpasar four times a week. Recently, Uzbekistan launched its first direct international flight from Tashkent to Bali. These flights will be operated by the Uzbek airline Qanot Sharq Airlines every 10 days as part of a charter program. In October, Jetstar Airways will join them: the Newcastle-Denpasar route will be operated three times a week, providing the island with over 70,000 additional seats per year. The flight time is less than six hours.
A year ago, discussions about subsidizing airline tickets were already held at the level of Balinese officials. The authorities were concerned that due to the rising cost of flights, the number of visitors to the island would decrease. However, at that time, the focus was mainly on domestic travelers. Now, the attention is directed to foreigners. It is not yet announced which specific routes and flights will be included in the subsidized list.
Sources: detik.com
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