Indonesia’s Bali, one of Southeast Asia’s most popular tourist destinations, expects international arrivals to reach 7.2 million by the end of this year, up 2% from a year earlier and the highest level in a decade.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster forecasts international arrivals to the island will reach 7.1 million to 7.2 million in 2026, exceeding the 7.04 million in 2025, Bali Discovery reported.
Koster said this upward trend in international arrivals was supported by figures recorded through the end of September 2026, which reached 5.2 million.
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Foreign tourists on Bali Island in Indonesia. Photo by AFP |
Koster underscored tourism’s importance to Bali’s regional economy and Indonesia’s national economy.
The sector accounts for about 66% of Bali’s economy and attracts nearly 45% of all international tourists visiting Indonesia, according to Apakabarbali news site.
Over the past year, authorities on the Indonesian island have intensified efforts to tackle visa violations and inappropriate behavior by foreign visitors in a bid to preserve local culture and public order.