Indonesia chases the return of ‘bonanza-era’ Chinese tourism

Chinese tour groups gather in Ubud, Indonesia. Chinese tourists have been slow to return to major holiday destinations after the pandemic, but Indonesia is aiming to double its numbers this year. Photograph: Helen Davidson/The Guardian

In the laneways of Ubud, three older Chinese women are laughing as they take photos of a friend posing under a cascade of tropical flowers. They are retired friends from Nanjing, and were frequent travellers before the pandemic.

“Bali has good people and good scenery. It’s cold in Nanjing now, so it’s a good time to come here,” says Zhang Min*. “We’re going sailing tomorrow, climbing a volcano the day after, and snorkelling. I want to try everything.”