As Indonesia does away on-arrival PCR tests and eases visa policies, Bali-based business events players are reporting budding interest from incentive groups, bringing hope and confidence to stakeholders.
Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort’s general manager Sylvain Pasdeloup, told TTGmice that the property has received around 20 international, incentives-related enquires for 2022, and he expects to welcome more for 2023.
Meanwhile, at The Apurva Kempinski Resort Bali, the demand for incentives spiked after Bali announced its reopening.
“We are seeing a strong uptick of around 40 per cent in enquiries for 2022, as well as some leads for 2023 and 2024,” said Kadek Budiasa, the resort’s director of sales and marketing.
Other properties in Bali have already secured confirmed bookings.
For instance, Merusaka Beachfront Resort & Spa will be welcoming incentive groups of between 50 to 200 participants from India in May, June, and September.
As for Good Day Tour Bali, the company has also received a number of incentive groups, but these were mainly those that were scheduled for 2020 and were postponed due to the pandemic, shared its managing director Wisnu Arimbawa.
Wisnu pointed out that the timing to obtain new corporate incentives bookings for 2022 has passed as most companies plan for such trips at the beginning of the year, but pandemic-related restrictions were only recently eased in April.
“As such, a new booking that will come in this year, will most likely be for 2023 or beyond,” he shared.
Another factor that stood in the way of Bali’s recovery was that direct flights to Bali are still limited, which means seats are currently quite expensive, according to Adjie Wahjono, operations manager of Aneka Kartika Tours.
Regardless, Adjie and Wisnu are optimistic about the future, and expect the demand for incentives will hit around 50 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in 2023, before a full recovery in 2024.
Wisnu suggested that business events stakeholders target South-east Asian outbound incentives for now. “Singapore has the most potential as there are many direct flights available. Besides, many regional officers are based there.”
Umberto Cadamuro, chief operating officer inbound of Pacto, meanwhile, is looking further afield to India, as Bali is a popular travel spot for outbound Indian travellers.
“We should not expect Europeans to return so soon as their market is experiencing a crisis due to the Ukraine-Russia war, which (results in) corporations being more careful in planning incentive trips,” he added.
