KONI Bali Advocates for Growth in Sport Tourism and Sport Industry
Denpasar, October 16, 2025 — The Bali branch of Indonesia’s National Sports Committee (Komite Olahraga Nasional Indonesia, KONI) is actively promoting the advancement of sport tourism and the sport industry in Bali, recognizing the island’s significant potential to develop these sectors and deliver economic benefits to the region.
I Gusti Ngurah Oka Darmawan, Chairman of KONI Bali, emphasized that while sporting activities traditionally focus on athletic achievements, attention is increasingly turning toward leveraging sports as a driver for tourism and industry growth. He noted that several stakeholders have begun engaging in public discussions, facilitated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora), to chart a path forward.
“Bali holds great potential for sport tourism and sport industry development. Just recently, I participated in a focused discussion in Kuta involving relevant parties, reflecting growing interest in these areas,” said Oka Darmawan in an interview on Wednesday, October 15. The chairman expressed confidence that expanding sport tourism and industry will generate a multiplier effect across the local economy. Events centered around sports not only fill accommodations and boost transportation rentals but also increase patronage at restaurants and retail outlets featuring Balinese products.
“When sport tourism and sport industry flourish, more hotels, restaurants, vehicle rentals, and shopping venues benefit because participants and visitors frequent them. This is why we are dedicating serious efforts to help realize this potential. Bali is truly ripe for such growth,” he affirmed.
However, Oka Darmawan pointed out infrastructural challenges, particularly the limited availability of international-standard venues for various sports disciplines across Bali. He highlighted that current facilities are insufficient, not only in Denpasar but also in other regencies such as Gianyar and Buleleng, where swimming and diving venues are present but few, while athletics facilities meeting record-breaking standards remain unavailable.
“This lack of international-standard venues is a key issue. For example, swimming and diving are only supported in Buleleng, and athletics is constrained by the shortage of suitable arenas. This needs urgent attention and support from the government moving forward,” he explained.
Furthermore, Oka Darmawan underscored the importance of developing venues suitable for athletes across all age groups, not just senior categories, acknowledging that sports development ideally begins from an early age. Complete and adequate facilities are essential to hosting sport tourism events and growing the sport industry effectively.
“If we truly focus on building this ecosystem, the future looks promising—not only for enhancing sports achievements but also for attracting widespread interest in sport tourism and industry. This is our goal and what we strive to achieve,” he concluded.
As Bali continues to position itself as a premier destination, KONI Bali’s push for integrated development of sport-based tourism and industry could play a pivotal role in diversifying the island’s economy while fostering wider community participation in sports.
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