Bali economy collapsing due to COVID-19

By Renae Henry • Asia Correspondent

The Bali that Australians know and love is falling apart, with its economy "collapsing" under the weight of the coronavirus pandemic.
Resembling a shadow of its former self, the island's streets are no longer bustling, beaches are closed, and the tourism industry - which most of Bali's four million people rely on - is near non-existent.
International arrivals had already dropped by a whopping 95 per cent.

Then a week ago borders closed to foreigners amid dire predictions COVID-19 could kill 240,000 Indonesians by the end of the month.
Driver Kadek Yosa Yasa worries about how he will feed his two children after going from doing 20 trips a month to none.
"No customers since six weeks ago and everyone struggling, struggling, struggling," he told 9News.
President of the Perth-based Indonesia Institute, Ross Taylor, expects the economic fallout for Bali will be far worse than after the 2002 bombings and Mount Agung eruptions.

If we go back to the 2002 bombings, Bali had 65 per cent of its whole economy dependent on tourism," he said.
"Today as they face the COVID-19 pandemic over 80 per cent of the Bali economy is wrapped up in tourism, and like many places in the world, tourism in Bali has completely collapsed.

A week ago borders closed to foreigners amid dire predictions COVID-19 could kill 240,000 Indonesians by the end of the month. (9News)

It's feared the economic fallout for Bali will be far worse than after the 2002 bombings and Mount Agung eruptions. (9News)

"Most of them now have been without work and the amount that remain in work will be in half pay, half shifts.
"So what will happen in the next month? One only starts to wonder and become quite terrified."
With all bookings cancelled until July, caterer Djulian Firmansyah is pleading for government help with $40 billion stimulus packages slow to reach pockets.
"It's okay three days, six days or one year you want us to stay at home but please give us some food," he said.
After her own event planning business ground to a halt, Bali-based Aussie Nadine Gray has raised almost $1000 and counting to deliver rice, eggs, noodles and vegetables to locals in need.