The EU has imposed restrictions on Russians travelling to Europe following the invasion of Ukraine, with some countries – notably Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Poland and the Czech Republic – imposing an outright ban. The constraints have opened up new markets around the world for Russia’s billion-dollar tourism industry.
Known for its combination of tropical beaches, lush rice paddies and volcanic mountains, Bali is a renowned tourist haven that attracts visitors from all over the world. But last year the Indian Ocean island began to see an increase in a certain kind of traveller: some 58,000 Russians had travelled to Bali by the end of the year. In January 2023 alone, visitor numbers from Russia jumped to 22,500, according to Indonesian government data, making Russians the second-largest visitor group after Australians.
