Amid global economic and political uncertainty, Bali is defying the odds. With travel and tourism feeling in a pretty vulnerable situation right now, Bali is once again proving itself to be a world-class destination, and demand for travel to the island just keeps growing.
The latest travel data shows that demand for travel to Bali is growing, with both international and domestic tourists. With domestic travel in Indonesia becoming increasingly accessible, more and more Indonesian nationals can explore their archipelago home.
With Bali being the country’s flagship destination, the island is as in demand with domestic tourists as with the international crowd.
The Central Statistics Agency has confirmed that 6.07 million international tourists visited Indonesia between January and May 2026, a 7.6% increase over the same period in 2025. The vast majority of international tourists to Indonesia visit Bali for all or part of their trip, meaning that the island is once again on track for a record-breaking year for tourism.
The Central Statistics Agency has also revealed updates about domestic travel trends, which always make for interesting reading.
Here at The Bali Sun, we have been around long enough to know that in Indonesia, where domestic travel trends go, international traveller trends tend to follow pretty quickly, whether that be in terms of attractions, destinations, travel styles, and more. Domestic travel trips across Indonesia reached 532.22 million between January and May 2026, an increase of around 2%.
All this talk of growth and demand has got tourism leaders in Bali talking about the metrics of quality tourism, and what this all means for both the travel sector and for tourists themselves.
There have been concerns over the last month that international tourists’ travel spending habits may change as the Indonesian Rupiah weakened against the dollar. Although in the first instance this would mean international tourists’ travel budgets would go further, with rising costs locally, tourism service providers from hotels to cafes, attractions to private drivers, would have no option but to pass these increased costs on to their customers.
Speaking to reporters, Parjiman, Head of the Bali Province Financial Services Authority (OJK), confirmed that the tourism sector has once again become the largest absorber of bank financing in Bali.
As of April 2026, credit flowing to the accommodation and food and beverage sectors increased by IDR 2.10 trillion compared to the same period last year, a sign that tourism activity on Bali continues to grow.
He confirmed that the credit disbursement to the accommodation and food and beverage sector grew 15.46 percent year-on-year (yoy). This growth represents the largest increase in credit compared to other local industries.
He shared, “This increase in funding reflects the strengthening of tourism activity in Bali. The increase in tourist visits encourages businesses to expand and increase their capacity.
While Parjiman was hopeful about the strength of the tourism sector and its benefits for both tourists and local people, Trisno Nugroho, a Bali branch manager of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) and tourism economics observer, has taken a more cautious approach.
In his eyes, Bali should simply focus on the number of tourists arriving, hotel occupancy rates, or the amount of tourist spending to assess whether the landscape is serving visitors, communities, and businesses adequately.
He shared, “We need to ensure how much of the economic value of tourism actually stays, circulates, and is enjoyed by the Balinese people.”
He explained that Bali still needs to open itself to green investment, the use of technology, digital platforms, and international networks as part of strengthening the tourism sector.
Nugroho cautioned, however, that this openness must be balanced with fair governance, enforcement of regulations against businesses and investors that cut corners, increased direct booking channels, and clear measurement of the amount of tourist spending that actually stays in Bali.
He noted, “This way, Balinese tourism will not only grow significantly but also become higher quality, more inclusive, and improve the welfare of the Balinese people.”
For tourists traveling to Bali or thinking of traveling to Bali, this is all good news. With demand growing, leaders are more committed than ever to doing better across the board.
This includes leveling up services, improving attractions and the functionality of destinations, meaning that whether foreigners are coming to Bali as tourists, entrepreneurs, workers, or to retire, everything is working from a micro level, all the way through to the big picture.
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