Thailand-Cambodia row benefits Bali, as tourists trade temples for beaches

The tourism industry in Indonesia’s holiday hotspot Bali is preparing for a potential influx of travellers who are re-routing their holidays from Thailand, spooked by the recent border conflict with Cambodia, even though a fragile ceasefire is now in place.

Local officials and hotel operators have reported early signs of shifting travel patterns as global tourists seek out safer alternatives in Southeast Asia, according to I Gusti Agung Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, deputy chair of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) in Bali.

“Because Bali is considered safe and conducive, we are seeing a spillover from tourists who initially planned to visit Thailand,” he told local news outlet NusaBali on Sunday. “There’s no concrete data yet on the re-routing of flights from Thailand to Bali. But it appears the increase in visits is 10-15 per cent.”

Military clashes that erupted on Thursday near Preah Vihear in Cambodia and Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand have left at least 38 people dead and displaced more than 300,000. While a ceasefire was brokered and took effect on Monday at midnight, Thai officials later accused Cambodia of early violations, and negotiations have since stalled amid mutual recriminations.

The fighting prompted updated travel advisories from several governments. Australia’s Smartraveller, the US embassy and the UK Foreign Office now advise against travel within 50km of the Thai-Cambodian border.

While major Thai tourist hubs such as Bangkok and Phuket remain unaffected, the broader perception of instability may be enough to prompt itinerary changes, according to PHRI Secretary Perry Markus.

“This pattern could occur because tourists want to travel in safe and comfortable places,” he told Indonesian news outlet Republika on Sunday, adding that he hoped this would be accompanied by longer tourist stays.

  

​Read More