DENPASAR, OborDewata.com – The Head of Bali’s Provincial Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, has responded to the Australian government’s advisory urging its citizens to avoid traveling to Bali due to high dengue fever (DBD) cases on the island.
Tjok Bagus assured that Bali remains safe for tourists and emphasized that the Bali Provincial Government has undertaken various efforts to address the dengue situation and maintain the trust of tourists, including those from Australia.
“The provincial government has already coordinated on this. The increase in cases was mainly due to the transitional weather. The peak was around April-May, but now it’s not as severe,” he stated on Wednesday (12/11/2024).
He also encouraged all tourist site operators in Bali to provide updated information to their foreign partners regarding the health situation and the measures taken by the government.
“This is due to the changing weather. We urge all tourist site operators to inform their overseas partners about the current conditions in Bali. In other countries, for instance, the weather is cold now, and kids are getting sick. Whatever needs to be addressed, we are tackling it,” he explained.
According to Tjok Bagus, the close relationship between Bali and Australia ensures that Australian tourists understand the situation in Bali. He noted that the number of Australian visitors continues to rise, reflecting their trust in Bali as a travel destination.
“I’m confident Australia understands Bali’s situation very well. Bali is essentially Australia’s second home. Australian tourists are still our number one visitors, and their numbers keep increasing, surpassing one million, even exceeding 2019 levels,” he added.
When asked about Bali’s safety for tourists, Tjok Bagus firmly stated, “Safe, it’s still safe.”
Through its news platform, news.com.au, the Australian government has warned its citizens to remain cautious about dengue outbreaks in Bali during the rainy season. The report highlights that most areas in Australia lack mosquitoes capable of spreading dengue. However, dengue cases have been reported among Australians who traveled abroad, including to Bali.
The advisory comes after Queensland reported 29 dengue cases last month. South Australia and Victoria also saw increases in cases among travelers returning from Indonesia. Victoria recorded 12 imported dengue cases in November 2024.
Previously, Bali’s Health Office released dengue fever case data for the province from January to November 30, 2024, with 14,881 cases and 16 deaths reported.
According to the data, Gianyar Regency recorded the highest number of cases at 4,402, with four deaths. This was followed by Badung Regency with 2,255 cases and one death, and Tabanan Regency with 1,492 cases and two deaths. Klungkung Regency reported 1,222 cases and three deaths.
Bangli Regency recorded 1,210 cases with one death, while Karangasem Regency had 974 cases with one death. Buleleng Regency reported 1,770 cases with no deaths, while Denpasar City recorded 1,247 cases with four deaths. Jembrana Regency reported 309 cases with no deaths.
Overall, the total number of dengue cases in Bali is 14,881, with 16 deaths. The dengue incidence rate (IR) in Bali is 305.201 per 100,000 residents. ri/nda/sathya
