Bali Governor Denies Tourism Downturn Claims, Confirms Growth Amid Year-End Holidays
Denpasar, Bali – December 24, 2025
Bali’s Governor Wayan Koster has firmly dismissed recent claims circulating on social media suggesting a downturn in Bali’s tourism sector during the crucial year-end holiday season, labeling such reports as “hoaxes.”
Speaking during his visit to the Port of Benoa in Denpasar on Wednesday, Governor Koster stressed that data collected by the provincial government tells a different story. “We recorded an increase in tourism visits, which means that the tourism downturn claims shared on social media are a hoax,” he told ANTARA news agency.
Governor Koster described the social media posts portraying tourism activities as “lacklustre” during the holiday season as “baseless.” He highlighted that Bali has welcomed 6.8 million foreign tourists so far this year, surpassing the 6.3 million foreign arrivals recorded throughout 2024. Furthermore, the island reported an average of 20,000 daily foreign tourists between December 19 and 22, suggesting strong sustained demand as the year draws to a close.
The governor expressed optimism that the province will reach the milestone of 7 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2025, underscoring Bali’s continued position as a top global vacation destination.
Supporting the governor’s statements, the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) of Badung District reported robust domestic tourist arrivals, with 9 million domestic visitors this year and projections aiming for 10.5 million by year-end. PHRI’s Deputy Head Komang Alit Ardana emphasized the importance of promoting Bali’s tourism rather than drawing unfavorable comparisons with other Southeast Asian destinations like Malaysia, Singapore, or Thailand, which he suggested may stem from competitive motivations.
“We must play a role in promoting Bali tourism, and we also affirm that Bali remains a popular and a must-visit tourism destination,” Ardana said.
Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport figures further corroborate the positive trends in tourism. Between December 15 and 23, the airport registered 126,152 domestic arrivals and 192,960 international arrivals. During this period, the airport handled an average of 67,112 arriving passengers daily along with 423 flight movements, indicating a high volume of traveler traffic.
The robust data from both land and air entry points dispels doubts over the vitality of Bali’s tourism industry as the island braces for a bustling holiday season amid some unpredictable weather conditions.
As the year progresses, provincial authorities and tourism stakeholders remain committed to ensuring Bali continues to attract visitors from around the world, bolstering the local economy and reaffirming its status as Indonesia’s premier travel destination.
Additional Information:
- Bali’s tourism sector has faced challenges in recent years due to global events, but recovery efforts have been showing promising results.
- The province is also enhancing indoor tourism options to mitigate impacts from volatile weather during peak seasons.
- The government and related entities are monitoring tourism data closely to inform future strategies and marketing campaigns.
For continuous updates on Bali tourism and related news, stay tuned to official announcements and reliable news outlets.
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