Bali to trial quarantine free travel for Aussies

Bali, Indonesia- 16 Oct, 2019: Locals and tourists on crowded Kuta Beach in Bali a popular travel destination.

Aussie travellers heading to Bali will soon be able to enter quarantine-free with a new “trial” for vaccinated tourists.

According to local media, travellers won’t have to enter hotel quarantine after arriving and the Visa On Arrival Program will make its return.

From 14 March, which is when JetStar will restart flights to Denpasar, fully vaccinated arrivals will only have to do a PCR test and once a negative result is produced, they can go out and explore Bali rather than stay isolated in a hotel room.

Bali re-opened its border to travellers from 4 February, but quarantine requirements were in place, leaving fully vaxxed visitors to quarantine for 3 days.

Unvaccinated arrivals will have to quarantine for at least 7 days and take a PCR test within 48 hours before departure, then one on arrival and one on day three of quarantine.

However, this quarantine-free travel comes with a catch.

Arrivals will need to provide proof that they have four nights in a hotel booked upon arrival. After the PCR test, fully vaccinated travellers will have to wait in their hotel room until they have received their negative test, according to Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaita.

Arrivals will also have to take a PCR test on day three after landing.

According to Bloomberg, the goal for Bali is to lift all quarantine requirements by April, at the latest.


Image: iStock/Pandjaitan

Latest News