Also coming- a third travel bubble, pre ChristmasIt’s back to...

Also coming- a third travel bubble, pre Christmas

It’s back to Bali as Indonesia pushes for Australian travel

Hopes are high that Australians can look forward toa summer holiday in Bali.

By David Flynn, November 3 2021

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Indonesia could soon join Singapore in Australia's second two-way travelbubble, with President Joko Widodo proposing the establishment of a 'vaccinatedtravel lane' with Australia to improve tourism and economic ties between bothcountries.

The arrangement would see fully-vaccinated people arriving fromIndonesia and Australia – including tourists, business travellers, students andworkers – able to visit and return without having to undergo quarantinerequirements

Further recognition of both countries' vaccination certificates willhelp accelerate travel as well, Widodo, known as Jokowi, told Australian PrimeMinister Scott Morrison during a meeting on the sidelines of Group of 20leaders’ summit in Rome.

That same summit saw Morrison confirm that visitors from Singapore willbe able to come to Australia as of Sunday November21.

The latest relaxation of Indonesia's travel restrictions reduces thequarantine period to three days, down from five, while reopening touristhotspot Bali to visitors from many countries.

However, the Indonesian government – like that of Singapore – haspressed for any travel arrangement to flow both ways, so that its citizens canvisit Australia.

Before the pandemic struck, Australians accounted for one-quarter of alltourists arriving in Bali.

At the time of writing, Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar all plan toresume flying to Bali in March 2022.

Qantas' schedule shows a resumption of its daily QF43 flight from Sydneyto Denpasar on Sunday March 27, with the Melbourne-Denpasar QF45 coming back onMonday March 28; both flights will be handled by a Boeing 737.

Low-cost carrier Jetstar has pencilled in April 1 for the return of itspopular JQ37 between Sydney and Denpasar, which according to the timetable willbe flown by its Boeing 787.

Sunday March 27 is listed as a three-city kickoff for Virgin Australia,with Bali-bound Boeing 737 flights taking off from Sydney, Melbourne andBrisbane.

Speaking at a press conference on October 22, Qantas Group CEO AlanJoyce said he hope that an arrangement for quarantine-travel between Australiaand Bali would be in place before Christmas.

Last week saw Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs lower its warningfor Indonesia from the highest status of 'Level 4: Do not travel' to 'Level 2:Exercise a high degree of caution', under which travel insurance remainsgenerally available.

However, DFAT also highlighted the "limited availability of testingand infection control facilities," adding that "critical care forAustralians who become seriously ill, including in Bali, is significantly belowthe standard available in Australia.

Additional reporting by Bloomberg