Recent media report covers how Bali becomes a Tropical paradise for thousands of Ukrainians who are forced to flee their country after Russian invasion. This invasion is about to reach it’s one-year mark by 24 February. Nevertheless, a long stretched Russian invasion still could not restrict people living alongside each other in the Indonesian island resort of Bali.
Image source: CNA
The report states how the resort seems to contain thousands of Russians and Ukrainians living together peacefully. Additionally, many of the people have turned that island into their home after fleeing from their countries post Russian invasion.
The recent government data shows that more that 7,000 Ukrainians landed in Bali last year, but the last month alone accounts for greater than 2,500 arrivals. Also, in accordance with the last year reports, there existed more than 58,000 Russians arrival. But this year the number of arrivals has crossed more than 22,500, fascinatingly, positioning Russia on the second most number in the list entailing foreign arrivals that month.
With no terminating point to the strife in picture, Indonesia’s top tourist spot eventually ends up becoming a temporary refuge for citizens and businesses seeking a way out of the turmoil.
Uniting and Elevating as a Community in Bali
Image Source: CNA
Mr. Tjokorda Bagus Pemayun, head of the Bali Tourism Agency mentions that last year they hit the apex. The vogue started expanding since Bali opened its doors without putting quarantine on March 7.
Pemayan further put down the question of choosing Bali. He states that though they are at war with Russia, the travelers in Bali still keep increasing significantly because the former as a space provides peace. So, instead of staying in their own respective places, they choose to live in this place.
The Ukrainian community head in Bali ends up finding himself on an extended stay post invasion while he arrived there for holiday on the island. He seeks to create a community in that space for other Ukrainians. He mentions that their common goal is to help Ukraine, to find alternatives to help Ukrainians, to build strong ties with the local people, government and police.
Shifting Businesses to Bali
Image source: Bangkok Post
After the war began, one Ukrainian travel agency sets up its base in Indonesia, and hires many Ukrainians to work there. Meanwhile, some Russians also extend their helping hand to fellow citizens who are seeking to shift to Indonesia.
Ms. Anna Pomarnia owns a consultancy that enables Russian-speaking firms establish their shops in Indonesia. She pens her experience about her stay in her own hotel in Indonesia where she shifted at the start of COVID-19 pandemic. She writes that she enabled a dozens of businesses to set up in Indonesia as they are looking out for ways to feed their families, earn money or expand their existing business network.
According to the National Statistics Agency, in 2021 Russian tourists ranked 9th in terms of their investment or amount of money spend in Indonesia. They almost spend an average of US$3,710 per trip.
As per the collected data from Indonesia’s Investment Coordinating Board, the Russian businesses accounted for more than 6.5 per cent of foreign investments in Bali previous year which unto 2021 was only 5 percent in terms of its concentration in real estate.
Mr. I Wayan Puspa Negara, chairman of the Alliance for Marginal Tourism Operators of the place mentions that they require maintenance so as to manage the sudden explosion of Russian and Ukrainian tourists in Bali, amidst the war between Russia and Ukraine. He even goes ahead to attribute this mass population shift to the uniqueness of Bali.
As per the media reports, Bali to many people in the midst of chaos and strife offers a solace. Thus, they consider this place to be their best option amid the Russian-Ukraine crisis. However, returning back to their own hometown and living peacefully is still a distant dream they cherish while looking forward for the conflict to end.
