Bali Plus More? Indonesia Unveils Tourism Strategy

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The Indonesian Government is on a mission to harness the potential of travel and tourism nationwide to boost the economy.

This renewed commitment to developing sustainable tourism could bring a series of impressive benefits to Bali tourists, who will be encouraged to engage with travel in new ways. 

Speaking at the 37th Joint Meeting of the United Nations (UN) Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific this week, the Indonesian Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, shared his vision for using tourism to drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and create jobs as the world’s economy undergoes profound shifts. 

In 2024 alone, Indonesia received more than 13 million international tourists, over 6.3 million of whom visited Bali. The tourism sector nationally creates nearly 25 million jobs and contributes over USD 16.7 billion to the country’s foreign exchange. 

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Minister Hartarto told the meeting, “It is time for us to hold a meeting about tourism that can reduce the impact of global uncertainty. We can easily get information, travel, and experience life in various parts of the world. This will bring transformational changes for the development of the tourism sector in the world.”

He shared, “The current government under President Prabowo Subianto also sees tourism as one of the pillars of economic growth, and we have a strong commitment to developing sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism as well as encouraging local community-based tourism through various programs such as village-based tourism and changing destinations from mass tourism strategies into more sustainable paths.”

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The Minister added “Tourism is a sector that not only provides economic benefits but also social and cultural benefits. So, let’s work and utilize this forum to collaborate. Let’s discuss how to promote tourism that can increase economic growth, inclusivity, and preserve the environment. Indonesia is always committed to pursuing the principles of sustainability and inclusivity in developing the tourism sector.”

As Minister Hartarto seeks to find new collaborations and new ways in which to encourage visitors to engage with local community-based tourism in Bali and across the country, Indonesian Minister for Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, is already putting new systems in place to help develop more sustainable tourism across the country, but especially in flagship destinations like Bali. 

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In early April, Minister Wardhana, on behalf of the Tourism Minister, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Central Statistics Agency of Indonesia that will focus on policy formulation and data-based decision-making. Essentially, the Minister of Tourism will take a statistic-driven approach to designing sustainable tourism models that benefit tourists, the Indonesian people, and the economy.

After the signing of the new agreement, Minister Wardhana shared, “With a data-driven approach, we can ensure that this sector not only thrives but also provides broader benefits to society and the national economy.”

In a social media post, she wrote, “I am optimistic that this synergy will have a positive impact on the growth of the Indonesian tourism sector.”

“With stronger and more accurate data, we can design more effective strategies to improve national tourism competitiveness and drive economic governance across different destinations.”

For tourists planning their upcoming visits to Bali, these new changes will be felt slowly but surely. What is clear is that there will be an increasing shift towards promoting and, therefore, access to cultural and nature tourism in Bali and all across Indonesia.

Aspects of the tourism sector that are already front and center in Bali. Tourists planning trips in Bali could also consider splitting their vacation time between Bali and another destination around the archipelago.

For example, just this week, Bali welcomed the opening of Kemenuh Monkey Forest, a new nature-based tourism attraction located just 20 minutes from the center of Ubud. Designed around the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, the Kemenuh Monkey River offers visitors the opportunity to observe long-tailed macaques, the white monkeys of Bali, and flying foxes. 

The stunning new attraction allows tourists to observe some of Bali’s most important wildlife and connect to the forest landscape peacefully and authentically. Kemenuh Monkey River will be open daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., with the last entry to the park at 5 p.m.