According to a report released by Horwath HTL and C9 Hotelworks, Bali’s hotels are experiencing growing demand. Figures from the Bali Hotel and Branded Residence Update show overseas arrivals through August jumped 14% year-on-year, and by the end of 2014, international passenger arrivals through Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport are expected to reach a record 3.8 million.
Although more than 90% of visitors in 2014 came from Asia Pacific source markets, Bali’s tourism is expected to grow even more in 2015 after the Indonesian government announced visa waivers for China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and Australia.
“There is an expanding halo effect from the existing critical mass of destination visitors and recently improved infrastructure that is now expanding into Lombok, the Gili Island, Sumba and Flores,” said Bill Barnett, managing director at C9 Hotelworks. “Not only is tourism seeing expanded demand in these areas, but property developers are starting to recognize that opportunities are on the rise to tap into a greater Bali economic picture.”
“Bali hotels in many cases are weathering the storm of new supply, admirably holding rates and taking a small hit on occupancy,” added Matt Gebbie, director of Pacific Asia at Horwath HTL. “Individualism, management and product quality at every price point are more important than ever.”