Reported recently on Bali Discovery Tours online Newsletter "Bali Update", Nicki Lawson, a travel agent in Australia provided her insights on why Australian arrival numbers to Bali continue to lag:
"I'm a travel Agent and have done a quarter of my total sales for last year in this month alone...Guess what? I specialize in Bali. 99% of my business is Bali only. Great news . . .
With that said, I think that it will certainly be a sensational year for Bali with one major problem. We have no service form Garuda Ex Brisbane, Adelaide or Auckland.
The decreased services are seeing business now head towards Singapore Airlines as there is no alternative for many. Further, many who really wanted to go back to Bali have opted for other destinations as they don't want to be mucked around.
We can't even get Adelaide passengers on a domestic flight to Melbourne and make the International connection to Bali as it now leaves too early. When you consider the cost of two connecting flights and a hotel for a night as they have to come in the night before it becomes illogical not to go via Singapore. No double handling and change in your pocket.
I wish these auditors would look at the bigger picture as they are now costing Garuda a fortune . . .
Bali can boom and Garuda can make some good money if they take the bean counters out and put someone involved in tourism at the helm. Bring on good sense."