Thousands of Chinese tourists stranded in Bali after flight ban

Helping with the fight Xiqiao community workers sterilising a street. While the medical staff in Wuhan, Hubei province, battle the novel coronavirus on the front line, community workers are also playing a crucial role in the prevention and control of the epidemic. - China Daily/ANN

JAKARTA: An estimated 5,000 Chinese tourists are stuck in Indonesia’s popular resort island of Bali after Indonesia banned direct flights to and from mainland China to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

As most of the visitors were traveling on short tourist visas and were caught unaware by the flight ban, Indonesia said on Tuesday it would grant extensions of one month. Chinese Consul General in Denpasar Gou Haodong met local officials in Bali and sought help to extend the stay of the stranded tourists, the consulate said in a statement on its website.