Coronavirus in the Gili Islands
We will be posting regular updates to this page to keep you informed of the situation in the Gili Islands, Lombok, Lembongan and Nusa Penida, detailing the response to the Coronavirus on each island. As soon as it is safe to travel again, you’ll see it here first!
Facebook page @Giliticketscom to get notified quicker and stay up to date with all the latest developments.
Last Updated: 29th May 2020
Cases overview in West Nusa Tenggara
|
Warning: Indonesia will temporarily ban domestic and international air travel from April 24 to June 1. The country will also ban domestic and international sea travel from April 24 to June 8. Cargo transportation, diplomatic staff, representatitives of international organisations, rapatriation of Indonesian and foreign citizens and states official are exempted.
Gili Lockdown
Currently the Gili Islands are in partial lockdown, with the following travel restrictions in place: Tourists are not allowed to enter the Islands. However, those few that have been on the islands since before the pandemic struck have been permitted to leave Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno as necessary. If you leave the the Gilis, you can only come back if you live there, and you must observe a 14 days quarantine. There are no reported cases of COVID-19 in the Gili islands.
The Lombok regional health agency and task force have been overseeing the disinfecting of public areas. Island residents are asked to keep to social distancing protocols and to stay home as much as possible.
Our friends over at Manta Dive Gili Trawangan got interviewed & featured on Sky News, reporting from the island during lockdown. Check it out!
Before the Fast boats stopped their services from Bali to Gili, in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, health officials were running mandatory health checks at Bangsal Port in Lombok. The temperature of all passengers on their way to the three Gili Islands was taken. We expect that this type of health screening will continue once the travel restrictions are lifted.
.jpg)
Coronavirus in Lombok
Local authorities are enforcing strict measures even if only a few cases have been reported. They wish to prevent the spread as much as possible, and have cut off remoter villages and areas, in some cases making it difficult for the locals to obtain supplies. People in Lombok are required to:
- Avoid crowds
- Keep simple hygiene measures
- Keep social distancing
- Enter a 14 days self-quarantine when coming home to Lombok
- Intenational Tourist arrivals are banned from Land and Sea
To ensure that those measures are respected, a task force is collecting data from returning resident. They are spraying disinfectant in public and even private places. They are attempting to help by providing food to people in quarantine.
Lombok International Airport and Lembar Port remain open for domestic use only. Flights have been considerably reduced.
.jpg)
Coronavirus in Lembongan
Tourists are not permitted to enter Nusa Lembongan or Ceningan. On the other hand, residents can still make their way in. However, a strict process is in place: they need to check at the Nusa Penida II Health Center upon arrival and follow a 14 days self-quarantine.
Tourists and locals living in the villages of Lembongan and Jungutbatu are encouraged to stay inside the villages as they will not be able to re-enter the villages if they leave.
People are asked to keep social distancing and to avoid any unnecessary contact. While some tourist accommodations are still open, they will require a health check-up at the government hospital and a 14 days self-quarantine. Almost all restaurants are closed to sit in. Boarding houses managers can refuse residents coming directly from Bali.
.jpg)
Coronavirus in Nusa Penida
Boat crossings between the Island and Bali are focused on providing required material only. The port is closed for tourists but remains open for natives.
As on the other Islands, people are asked to keep social distancing, avoid crowds and keep simple hygiene measures. They are encouraged to stay home a much as possible.
.jpg)
What can we do to help the islands?
The tourism industry in the Gillis and the surrounding Islands is under threat. The Islands are suffering from an immense economic downturn. Many people are now out of work. A way to help the locals is to consider rescheduling your travel plans instead of cancelling bookings and asking for refunds.
When it’s safe to travel again, consider buying more from street vendors who are likely to have been the worst hit, and if you can - explore more of the region than you may have previously considered. Lombok, Lembongan, Penida and the Gili islands are all within easy reach of each other and offer something unique and well worth experiencing.
Fast boat services during Coronavirus pandemic
Fast boats with direct routes between Bali, Lombok, Lembongan/Pendia and the Gili Islands are not operating at the moment.
- Eka Jaya- not operating since 17th of March until further notice
- Golden Queen- not operating until further notice
- Wahana Gili Ocean- not operating until further notice
- D’Camel Fast Ferry- not operating until further notice
- El Rey Junior Fast Boat- not operating until further notice
- Rocky Fast Cruises- not operating until further notice
Contact information
If you had a fast boat booking for travel in the next few months or for other destination-related questions, feel free to contact us directly if you wish to reschedule your trip. We also invite you to consult our Terms and Conditions if you have any questions regarding a cancellation.