PHRI Optimistic Bali Hotels Will Reach 95% Occupancy for New Year Holidays
Jakarta, Indonesia – The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali branch has expressed confidence that hotel occupancy rates on the famed "Island of the Gods" will hit between 90 and 95 percent during the Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 holiday season. The upbeat forecast comes amid a noticeable surge in tourist arrivals ahead of the festive period.
I Gusti Agung Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, Vice Chairman of PHRI Bali, reported that current hotel occupancy hovers around 75 to 80 percent. He projects a steady increase over the coming days, culminating on New Year’s Eve with peak hotel bookings.
“Occupancy is currently at 75 to 80 percent, but the trend is upward. We anticipate reaching 90 to 95 percent by New Year’s, which follows the historical pattern for this holiday period,” Rai said on Sunday, December 28, 2025. While luxury star-rated hotels experienced a modest dip in occupancy—down to 60–65 percent from November through mid-December—Rai emphasized that this does not signal a decline in overall tourism numbers. Instead, it reflects changing traveler demographics, with many visitors now coming from middle-to-lower market segments.
“This slight decrease is not alarming. Many international tourists arriving now prefer more affordable accommodations such as guest houses, villas, apartments, and homestays,” he explained. Rai highlighted that this shift is beneficial for the local economy because many of these lodging options are locally owned, thus helping to distribute tourism revenue more equitably across the community.
PHRI also pointed out that Bali’s total room inventory has expanded by nearly 10 percent this year. This increase can make occupancy rates appear lower when calculated as a percentage, even as the absolute number of visitors continues to grow. Rai clarified, “The notion that tourist visits have decreased is incorrect. In 2024, foreign arrivals were around 6.3 million. For 2025, we are on track to reach 7 million, an increase of approximately 11 percent.”
However, despite strong international arrivals, the association noted a slight decline in domestic tourism. The expected target of 10.5 million domestic visitors is forecasted to miss the mark by about 10 percent compared to previous years.
While key tourist centers on the island maintain robust occupancy figures, regions such as Karangasem, North Bali, and West Bali face ongoing challenges in attracting visitors. Rai stressed that achieving more balanced infrastructure development and targeted regional promotion will be essential in overcoming these difficulties.
“Looking ahead to 2026, our goal is to ensure that Bali’s tourism growth is more evenly spread across the entire island,” Rai concluded.
This optimistic outlook signals a promising end to the year for Bali’s tourism sector, which remains a vital part of Indonesia’s economy and cultural vibrancy during the festive season.
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