Bali’s Tourism Booms: Governor Slams ‘Hoax’ Claims of Downturn as Holiday Surge Continues!

Bali Governor Dismisses Tourism Downturn Claims as Hoax Amid Year-End Holiday Surge

Denpasar, Bali – Bali Governor Wayan Koster has firmly rejected recent assertions circulating on social media that claim the island is experiencing a downturn in its tourism sector during the year-end holiday period. Labeling these reports as a “hoax,” Governor Koster emphasized that data shows a robust increase in tourism visits rather than a decline.

Speaking to ANTARA News during his visit to the Port of Benoa in Denpasar on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, Governor Koster highlighted the strong influx of tourists to Bali this year. “We recorded an increase in tourism visits, which means that the claims about tourism downturn on social media are baseless,” he said.

The governor revealed that Bali has welcomed 6.8 million foreign tourists on a year-to-date basis in 2025, surpassing the 6.3 million foreign tourists recorded throughout 2024. Between December 19 and 22 alone, Bali received an average of 20,000 foreign visitors per day. Governor Koster expressed optimism that the island would reach the milestone of 7 million tourists by the end of the year.

Supporting the governor’s statements, the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) in Badung District noted that Bali has attracted 9 million domestic tourists so far in 2025, with projections indicating the total number could reach 10.5 million by year-end. Komang Alit Ardana, Deputy Head of PHRI in Badung, stressed that it is unfair to compare Bali’s tourism figures directly with those of neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, or Thailand. He further speculated that the negative narratives may have been propagated by competing tourism destinations.

“We must focus on promoting Bali tourism and affirm that Bali remains a popular and must-visit destination,” Ardana said.

Additionally, Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport reported strong passenger arrivals during the busy holiday season. From December 15 to 23, 2025, the airport recorded 126,152 passengers arriving domestically and 192,960 international arrivals. On average, 67,112 passengers arrived daily with 423 flight movements during the same period, reflecting the healthy travel demand to the island.

The governor’s remarks come amid growing concerns on social media about tourism activity, which he decisively labeled as “baseless.” Bali continues to prepare for an expected surge in visitors, despite seasonal weather variability, underscoring its position as a globally favored tourism hotspot.

Related Developments

• Bali authorities have been implementing efforts to diversify tourism offerings, including indoor tourism options to mitigate the impact of volatile year-end weather.
• Indonesia recently launched a new Immigration Research Center based in Bali to support sustainable tourism growth and security.

Governor Koster’s clear dismissal of the downturn claims reaffirms confidence in Bali’s tourism resilience and signals continued support for the sector’s recovery and expansion heading into 2026.