Bali Tourism Trends Show Holidaymakers Are Choosing Villas Over Hotels 

Share The Article

Travel trends in Bali are forever in flux; what is trending one minute is already old news by the time tourists book their next trip.

However, the latest travel data revealed a sustained new direction for Bali lovers: the preference for private villas over hotels as an accommodation option on the island. 

The Chairman of the Bali Villa Association (BVA), Putu Gede Hendrawa, shared the latest travel trend data.

He revealed that the occupancy rate for private vacation villas in Bali this high season has been 85-90%. This is strides ahead of the average hotel occupancy when looking at island-wide data. 

When asked about the reason behind this change in trend, Hendrawa told reporters, “Maybe because of the more private atmosphere and facilities.”

He confirmed that guests’ average stay in private villas was 3-5 nights. He added, “Astungkara, the villa occupancy has been good until now.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yuri | Bali (@yurri92)

He concluded, “We hope that the distribution of tourists is also more evenly distributed throughout Bali so that economic growth will also be better.”

After August, Bali will see a sudden decline in the number of international tourist arrivals as the high season comes to a close.

Though the island is set to have a record-breaking year in terms of visitor numbers, the decline in arrivals may not be as steep as some experts predict.

After August, the next peak flow of tourists will be in December and into January, as typically upwards of one million tourists arrive on the island to celebrate Christmas and New Year. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bambu Indah (@bambuindah)

With more tourists opting to book their vacations in Bali entirely independently of traditional travel agents, it’s not hard to see why private villas are becoming ever more appealing.

Not only do private villas offer more privacy to tourists, but they are often more affordable on a per-night booking basis and make it easier for tourists to explore the island independently too. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Kayon Jungle Resort (@kayonjungleresort)

Private villas have become synonymous with Bali travel. It only takes a quick glance at social media to see reels upon reels from content creators showcasing the most luxurious and best value private villas on the island.

The popularity of bamboo villas and treehouses, like those seen at properties like The Hideout, have captured the imaginations of wanderlust tourists from around the world.

Many tourists who travel to Bali on vacation chose to book a mix of both private villas and hotel accommodation  to really get the best of both worlds.

Hotels naturally provide more access to facilities such as in-house spas, guided tours, concierge service, and more, while villas generally give tourists a little more privacy and a greater sense of freedom to explore Bali in a self-directed way.

There is another option that offers guests the best of both worlds, and that is private villas within resort complexes, like Bambu Indah, Como Uma Ubud, and The Kayon Jungle Resort.

These kinds of private villas often provide a private pool or jacuzzi for guests. Tourists can enjoy the sense of retreat and space provided by a private villa but also have access to a concierge service, a tour desk, room service, in-house spas, restaurants, and entertainment. 

The news that private villas are an incredibly appealing option for the modern Bali traveler makes for interesting reading.

Many tourism leaders in Bali have been vocal about their concerns that there could soon be too many hotels on the island, risking the island seeing the negative impacts of overtourism.

Leaders like the Ex-Deputy Governor, Cok Ace, have called for an urgent spatial planning review to ensure that any new developments of tourist accordion, whether hotel, resort, or private villa, are informed by travel trends, projected demand and with a strong focus on environmental protection.