Bali is preparing to allow international tourists to visit from Sept 11, 2020 after months of travel restrictions in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, reported The Jakarta Post.

Previously on March 31, Indonesia had announced that it would ban foreigners from travelling into the country to curb the spread of the virus.

According to The Jakarta Post, Bali Governor Wayan Koster has since announced a three-step plan to resume activities in accordance with "new normal" policies. This includes allowing international tourists to travel to the popular resort island in September.

Bali will reopen to local tourists on July 9, 2020.

That said, Koster had revealed that tourist destinations in Bali will be closed until further notice. However, a number of regions have been allowed to reopen popular beaches such as Canggu Beach and Labuan Sait Beach located in Badung regency to international surfers.

Bali provincial secretary Dewa Made Indra told reporters that Bali will reopen while ensuring a "strict health protocol" to curb the spread of Covid-19, reported Reuters.

Bali held mass prayers as island reopens

Reuters revealed that Bali held mass prayers on July 5 as the island prepared to reopen, which drew a crowd of over 1,000 people.

Attendees gathered at Besakih Hindu temple in Karangasem to express gratitude and seek blessings.

Tourism badly hit

The Jakarta Post revealed that Bali's tourism, which is its main source of income, has been badly affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. The total number of foreign tourist arrivals was almost zero, weeks after the first case of Covid-19 was announced in Indonesia.

The occupancy rate at Bali's hotels fell to 2.07 per cent in May 2020, from 62.55 per cent in December before the Covid-19 outbreak, reported Reuters. In May 2019, the occupancy rate was 51.56 per cent.

Bali has reported 1,849 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 20 deaths thus far.

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Top photo via Beautiful Indonesia on Facebook