When October comes, we may recall the heinous attacks on Bali in 2002 and 2005 and their devastating impacts on the island’s tourism – the backbone of its economy. It took Bali years to regain its feet, during which the government initiated a collective leave day policy to accelerate the recovery of the country’s most popular tourist destination.

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be more damaging for Bali, which is why the government’s plan to reopen the island for foreign tourists has been met with enthusiasm. In fact, pressure had been mounting on the government to implement the policy much earlier, turning a blind eye to the surge in infection cases that have prompted strict mobility curbs there.

The pandemic has hit Bali very hard. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data shows the province’s economy …