The desire to spend the New Year on exotic islands is increasing among Russians despite on the economic situation. A lot of hotels offer accommodation for New Year dates on favorable conditions.

From January to August 2019, 98,3 thousand Russian tourists visited Indonesia, which is 18% more than the same period last year. Rossia Airlines expands flight program on the rout Moscow (Sheremetyevo) - Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia).

Analysts from the tourist search resource Aviasales examined airline reservations for 2019 with flights to 185 countries and found out how long, on average, travelers have holidays in certain destinations.

Russia leads among other countries in terms of growth of tourist flow to Indonesia. However, only Bali is showing growth, where more than 90% of Russian tourists rest. At the Russian-Indonesian business forum, experts discussed the demand trends and problems of promotion of Indonesian destination. 

Indonesia - Russia Business Forum took place in Moscow on August 1, 2019, organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Moscow, with support of the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia. It is aimed to facilitate business networks and cooperation between Indonesia and Russia, in infrastructure, energy, trade and in particular tourism. 

In the first quarter of 2019, 90.1% of the entire Russian tourist flow to Indonesia accounted for one island - Bali. In recent years, other islands have gradually attracted the attention of Russian tourists. Thus, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia, from January to March 2019, 46.4 thousand Russian tourists visited the country, which is 16.2% higher than for the same period last year. 

From January to March of this year the number of Russian tourists visiting Indonesia showed a 16% increase compared with a similar period last year. It was reported in the Republic’s tourist office in Russia (VITO Russia). 

Sales of summer tours to Indonesia have noticeably increased among a number of companies: the direct transportation and special offers from hoteliers encourage the growth of demand. Russia is on the first position among all European markets in terms of growth of tourist traffic to Indonesia over the past years. So, by the end of 2018 the country hosted 125.7 thousand Russian tourists, which is 7% higher than last year’s figures. 

According to the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, in 2018 125,700 citizens of the Russian Federation visited the country, which is 7% more than in 2017. This is a record result in the history of Russian-Indonesian relations. In terms of growth of tourist traffic to Indonesia Russia once again is on the first position among all European markets. 

The demand for winter tours to Bali is still lower than last year. According to tour operators, tourists are waiting - both for a more favorable exchange rate and last minute offers closer to departure dates.

According to tour operators, a direct flight to Bali from Moscow expanded an audience of the destination, including the tourists from regions who have an option of convenient change in Moscow. On October 29, the regular direct flight of Rossia airline between Moscow and Denpasar was launched.

The preferences of Russian tourists at Bali resorts remain unchanged: among the most requested regions are Nusa Dua and Jimbaran, Seminyak and Kuta. "The choice of these resorts is connected, first of all, with the price factor and the development of the hotel infrastructure", - ANEX Tour operator explains.

Tour operators already offer tours by direct flight of Aeroflot from Moscow to Denpassar and note that it has activated demand. Adjustments in sales are made mainly by currency exchange rates. According to tour operators, this year interest to holidays in Indonesia is growing. In the leaders of demand is still the island of Bali.

On August 2, 2018 Moscow hosted the Russian-Indonesian Business Forum organized by the Business Council in the framework of the III Festival of Indonesia and held at the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Russia and the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia with the support of the Department of Culture of Moscow.

Such data were announced at the Russian-Indonesian business forum. The authorities want to increase the number of Russian tourists to 1 million a year, for which they intend to develop the concept of "Ten new Bali". According to Agustini Rahay the Director of cooperation with the countries of Europe of the Ministry of Tourism of Indonesian Statistics, for the first 6 months of 2018 the Russian tourist flow to Indonesia increased by 10% against the same period of the last year, reaching 68.8 thousand people.

On August 2, 2018, Moscow hosted the Russian-Indonesian Business Forum organized by the Business Council in the framework of the III Festival of Indonesia and held at the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Russia and the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia with the support of the Department of Culture of Moscow.

The Republic of Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world comprising 13,466 large and small tropical islands fringed with white sandy beaches, many still uninhabited and some even still unnamed. It`s a huge nation, comprised of hundreds of cultures derived from local regions.

The flow of tourists from Russia to the island of Bali increased by 41.7% in 2017, according to statistical data published by the tourist office of the government of Indonesian province of Bali. Without problems connected with Agung volcano the number of Russian tourists visiting the country could be greater.

According to the statistical office of Indonesia, in January-August the resorts of Bali Island were visited in total by almost 4 million tourists, increased by 18.89% against the same period of the previous year, At the same time, every fourth tourist in Bali was from China. The Chinese tourist flow today accounts 26.23% of the total number, reaching 1,048,270 people in January-August.

“This year Indonesia expects to receive 75 thousand Russian tourists. The growth of tourist flow allows to make such forecasts, which has amounted more than 14% from the beginning of the year”, - said the deputy head of the Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia Maria Mayyabubun to “RATA-news”.

Russia’s federal agency for tourism, Rostourism, recommends the Russian nationals visiting Indonesia to be vigilant and not to leave guarded resort areas, the authority’s press service said on Friday following the terrorist attacks in Indonesia’s Jakarta a day earlier. "The Russian Foreign Ministry and Rostourism reiterate their recommendations to Russian nationals leaving for Indonesia to be vigilant, to stay away from crowded places and not to leave the protected resort areas without any urgent need," the tourist authority said in a statement.

Despite the introduction of visa-free travel for Russians to Indonesia in summer 2015, the demand for this destination has decreased by 20-30%, the press secretary of the Russian Union of Travel Industry Irina Turina reported to Interfax.

The two countries have increased bilateral cooperation in tourism and last year some 100,000 tourists from Russia came to Indonesian resorts. Russian tourism agency notes considerable shrinkage of outbound traveling to Europe. “The government of the Republic of Indonesia plans since January 1, 2015 to introduce the abolishment of visa requirements for Russian citizens visiting the territory of Indonesia,” said Irman Gusman, who chairs the Indonesia Regional Representatives Council (DPD).