Bali Set To Welcome More Than 1 Million Tourists Before End Of 2023

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Every year, Indonesia’s Ministry for Tourism and Creative Economies sets tourism targets for the 12 months ahead.

This year, Bali was tasked with welcoming 4.5 million international tourists, and with a little under three months to go, it looks like Bali will not only meet but surpass its targets. 

The cumulative number of foreign visitors to Bali between January and the end of August 2023 was 3,418,907.

This means that in order to surpass tourism predictions for 2023, Bali must welcome 1.1 million international tourists before New Year’s Eve.

If travel data from last year is anything to go by, it is clear that Bali easily receive more than one million tourists in the next three months.

In fact, over the Christmas and New Year holidays last year alone the Island of the Gods welcomed one million international and domestic visitors. 

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Speaking at a press conference earlier this week, the Head of the Bali Province Central Statistics Agency, Endang Retno Sri Subiyandani, said that 3,418,907 foreign tourists have visited Bali according to the most up-to-date figures.

This is an increase of 282.14 percent compared to January-August 2022.

He confirmed that many of the travel trends remain the same. He added, “Of the top ten, Australian tourists visit Bali the most, namely 844,483 foreign tourists.” It has been the case for decades that Bali is the leading vacation destination for many Australians.

In total 120,000 Australians visited Bali in August, followed by 33,000 tourists from India and 31,000 visitors from France.

Data from the Central Statistics Agency is generally punished with a one-month delay, so we can expect September’s figures to be revealed by the end of October. 

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What data has shown is that Bali is decreasing in popularity with tourists from the United States. Rent told reporters, “Of the top 10 foreign tourist arrivals, foreign tourists from the United States recorded the deepest decline month to month, namely 20.64 percent.” 

The Head of the Bali Tourism Service, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, has confirmed that the number of daily arrivals to Bali remains on track to support tourism targets for 2023.

Speaking just last week, he told reporters, “Before the pandemic, there were between fifteen thousand and sixteen thousand foreign tourists coming. Currently, it is between seventeen thousand and eighteen thousand. In fact, the peak reached nineteen thousand per day.”

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With an average of 18,000 people arriving in Bali every day, where are they all going? The most popular resorts on the island right now include Canggu, Uluwatu, and Nusa Penida.

Over two million tourists have made the boat crossing to Nusa Penida so far this year, an adventure that has fast become one of the non-negotiable must-do activities in Bali.

But for those wanting to escape the crowds, where is it possible to find a place to retreat on the Island of the Gods?

Destinations like Medewi, Amed, and Lovina are all quaint and charming in their own way. Medewi is the perfect destination for surfers looking for a piece of the Bali of old.

The emerging beach resort has plenty to explore and is now home to a series of gorgeous boutique resorts and local guest houses that make visitors feel right at home. 

Amed, a quiet fishing town in the east of Bali, is best for nature lovers, divers, and culture seekers.

Amed is laid back, welcoming, and a wonderful spot to really kick back and rejuvenate beneath the gaze of sacred Mount Agung. 

For those looking for a more off-the-beaten-path adventure to avoid the tourist crowds, be sure to explore Lovina Beach and the surrounding fishing villages.

Lovina Beach is an ideal place to stay and use as a base to explore all that North and Central Bali has to offer, from the waterfalls of Munduk to the coffee farms surrounding Kintamani and beyond.