Bali And Timor Leste In Talks To Promote Cultural Tourism To New Generation Of Travelers

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Bali Governor Wayan Koster has met with the Consulate General of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste in Bali to discuss the potential of a shared future in tourism.

As Bali is one of the most visited tourism destinations in Southeast Asia, Timor Leste, as a nation, sees markedly few international arrivals every year and wants to welcome more tourists to explore all that the region has to offer. 

Bali Governor Wayan Koster received Carolina Maria da Silva, the Consul General of Timor Leste, at his offices in Denpasar.

Consul General da Silva expressed her gratitude to Governor Koster for the open welcome Timor Leste citizens receive when they travel to Bali, she noted that travellers from Timor Leste receive ‘security and comfort’ while in Bali. 

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Consul General da Silva raised her concerns to Governor Koster that young people from Timor Leste are quickly leaving the country after completing their studies to seek opportunities elsewhere.

She feels that if tourism in the county were to receive a boost, young people would have more work and business opportunities.

Consul General da Silva shared, “In addition to tourism, many of our citizens also come to Bali as students. With the assistance of the Governor, our citizens feel safe and comfortable while carrying out their activities in Bali.” 

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Consul General da Silva was open about her wish for Timor Leste to learn directly from Bali how to better develop and manage tourism, especially while balancing cultural preservation and environmental protection. She shared, “The Consulate General in Bali is very special to us, and we want to learn a lot from Bali.”

She added, “I also see that Bali is very successful in holding international events, and the biggest one is the G20. I am proud of Bali’s achievements and the Governor’s role in hosting.” Governor Koster likened Bali and Timor Leste to siblings and agreed that the relationship between both places should become even closer, especially to support tourism development and young students. 

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In fact, opportunities to adventure and explore in Timor Leste are very similar to Bali. For travelers seeking to max out on wandering through local markers, trying local food, snorkeling, diving, hiking, and chasing waterfalls, then planning a 14-day vacation with a week in Bali and a week in Timor Leste would tick off a lot of itinerary criteria. 

As a tourist destination, everywhere feels a little off the beaten path in Timor Leste.

In 2024, the country had a record-breaking year for tourism, welcoming 80,000 people throughout the year.

To put things in perspective, in the high season, Bali Airport alone can welcome over 43,000 people per day. 

All this could mean that in the near future, it will be even easier for international tourists to explore Timor Leste from Bali. At present, there are regular direct flights between Denpasar and the capital city of Timor Leste, Dili.

The best time of year to visit Timor Leste is between May and November, similar to the high season of Bali. The country is home to just over one million people, and English, Bahasa Indonesian, Tetun, and Portuguese are widely spoken.

Tourist visas for Timor Leste can be obtained easily on arrival at Dili Airport, costing USD 30. 

Bali is already on a mission to become an even better-connected travel destination for tourists. Indonesia is working to establish Bali as more of a gateway destination to other incredible regions around the country.

Bali’s I Gusti International Airport is also working to establish better international flight connections to help attract more tourists and to give travelers more options to create multi-stop itineraries where Bali provides both an incredible destination to explore and serves as a transport hub connecting travelers with the Southeast Asian region and beyond.