Travelers to Bali will no longer need to stay in mandatory hotel quarantine from next week when the government rolls back its costly travel rule.

Currently, foreign visitors are required to self-quarantine for at least three days at their own expense upon arrival in Bali. This means staying, and paying for accommodation, at a government-approved five-star hotel.

From Monday March 14, however, this requirement will be waived entirely for fully vaccinated visitors, Luhut Pandjaitan (the government official in charge of Indonesia’s COVID response) told reporters via Bloomberg.

Under the new protocols, travelers will only need to self-quarantine for a few hours while awaiting the result of a PCR test upon arrival.

If this new approach proves successful, mandatory quarantine could be lifted not just in Bali, but across Indonesia.

Foreign visitors must be fully vaccinated to visit Bali. This means they must have received at least two doses of a vaccine or, in the case of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, one dose.

Travelers must also hold proof of health insurance with a coverage value of at least US$25,000, which covers treatment for COVID-19.

While the mandatory hotel quarantine should be removed, foreign visitors must still show proof of a hotel reservation (of their choice) with at least four nights paid in advance. They must also test negative for COVID-19 within 48 hours of departure.

Upon arrival, they will take a second test and be quarantined for a few hours until their result is ready, in addition to another test on the third day. If the third day test is negative, travelers have the option to travel to other parts of Indonesia if they wish.

If the new entry protocols prove effective, authorities will drop the mandatory hotel quarantine nationwide by April 1.

The program is open to visitors from some 61 countries who stay less than 30 days. These types of visas cost around 35 USD and can be processed at the visa office upon arrival at the airport.

When Bali opened wide to tourists in February, Singapore Airlines was the only operator offering direct flights to and from Bali. But as entry rules ease, more and more airlines are increasing their services.

Indonesian carrier Garuda has already resumed direct flights between Australia and Bali, while Australian low-cost airline Jetstar will resume services between Bali and seven Australian cities in April.

Meanwhile, airlines such as Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines operate flights to Bali from several European and American cities with a few stopovers.

When visiting Bali, it is important to note that masks are mandatory in most public places. Not everywhere is open and some local restrictions apply. Although in low risk “green” areas such as Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Sanur or Ubud, most hospitality and tourist locations are operating normally.