Bandung, IndonesiaSentinel.com — Bali is set to welcome an influx of South Korean tourists as Korean Air, a five-star airline from South Korea, ramps up its direct flight services between Incheon International Airport in Seoul and Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. With the onset of South Korea’s winter season, the airline will increase its flight frequency from 11 flights per week to two flights per day starting October 20, 2024.
Tae Seok Lee, Korean Air’s Country Manager for Indonesia, highlighted the growing significance of Bali as a top destination for South Korean travelers.
“Increasing our Bali services to two flights daily reflects our commitment not only to meet rising demand but also to remain competitive on this important route,” Lee stated during an event in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
“This September marks the 35th year of Korean Air’s operations in Indonesia, and we are celebrating by strengthening our presence in this market,” he added.
In recent years, the number of South Korean tourists to Indonesia, especially Bali, has surged. According to Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS), South Korea ranked as the fifth-largest source of international visitors to Bali in 2023.
The BPS data showed that approximately 347,185 South Korean tourists visited Indonesia in 2023, a dramatic increase from 122,221 in 2022 and 9,497 in 2021, signaling a strong rebound in travel post-pandemic.
Lee emphasized that Bali’s unique blend of ancient cultural traditions and world-class recreational amenities appeals to a wide range of South Korean travelers, from young adults to families and retirees. “Many South Koreans spend up to a full month vacationing in Bali,” he noted.
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South Korean nationals can visit Indonesia using a Visa on Arrival (VoA), allowing a 30-day stay with the option to extend for an additional 30 days, according to Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration.
Korean Air plans to operate the Seoul-Bali route using the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner during the upcoming winter season. This wide-body aircraft offers a larger seating capacity than the Boeing 787-9 and 777-300ER models that have serviced the route throughout the summer.
As the winter approaches and more South Koreans seek warmer destinations, Bali’s tourism industry stands to benefit from the increased flight availability and the growing interest from one of its top visitor markets.
(Raidi/Agung)
