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While the situation with an erupting volcano in the eastern portion of Bali could change at any time, most tourist activities and locations on the island were open on Monday, said Diane Embree of Bali Barong Tours in Westlake Village, Calif.
On Monday afternoon, Embree said she had spoken with ground operators on the island earlier that day.
“People who are already there, their tours and activities are going along as scheduled with the exception of the area right around the volcano in eastern Bali,” Embree said. “Some of the temples and other places people might visit in eastern Bali would be within the evacuation area.”
There are several popular diving areas located in the evacuation area that are closed, she said, but many popular tourist areas — like the southern beach areas and Ubud, an art and cultural center toward the middle of the island — are open.
However, Embree stressed that could change quickly.
Travel to and from the island is a different story. Numerous flights have been canceled and the international airport is closed. It is tentatively scheduled to reopen on Wednesday at 7 a.m. local time.
Embree said the government has arranged for buses to transport tourists to the harbor at Gilimanuk, where they can take a ferry to East Java. But the bus takes 4 to 5 hours to get to the harbor from most tourist areas on Bali, and transportation from the harbor in East Java to an airport could take another several hours. The ferry ride itself is around one hour depending on water and weather conditions, Embree said.
“The bottom line is, if you really had your heart set on it, could you get to Bali or out of Bali? Yes, but it could end up taking a couple days either way,” she said.
One positive thing has been the recent rainy weather: It has been keeping the amount of volcanic ash in the air relatively low, according to Embree’s sources on the ground, but that, too, could change quickly.
Embree does not have clients in Bali, but several honeymooning couples were set to travel there this week, and another handful of clients are scheduled to fly to the island next month.
“Right now, what I’m finding is that most of my clients who are due to depart for Bali this week are canceling,” Embree said. Those set to go farther out are still deciding what to do.
Embree herself still intends to take a trip she has planned in January, but the volcano will ultimately determine her final plans.
The disruption to tourism will have a significant economic impact on Bali, Embree said.
“Their livelihood depends on tourism. I mean, that is it for Bali,” she said. “They have a few other small industries, but tourism is [mostly] it, and I think that people are going to probably be — right or wrong — choosing to stay away for a while.”
Source: travelweekly.com