Bali is a resilient place. The people and the culture of this island, as well as the landscape itself, have faced unimaginable adversity over the centuries and have stood strong in the face of strife time after time.
As geopolitical tensions are rattling the world’s tourism sector, Bali is proving to be as in demand as ever.
Demand for travel to Bali not only remains high but is increasing as the year progresses. When the conflict in the Middle East broke out, leaders in Bali’s tourism sector were concerned that the travel market would crash.
With millions of travelers stranded due to airspace closures back in early March, the potential outlook for Bali’s all-important travel industry looked bleak.
Fast forward to mid-April, and the number of arrivals looks stable, and data suggest that demand will continue to rise. With Bali targeting to welcome 7.5 million international tourists in 2026, this is all looking rather positive.
Ketut Ardhana, an advisor from the Bali Hotel and Restaurants Association (ASITA), has spoken to reporters this week about the impact the conflict in the Middle East and global geopolitical tensions are having, and could continue to have on Bali’s travel sector and tourists themselves.
Ardhana has suggested that although everything is looking pretty stable, tourism businesses should shift focus to the Asian travel market, in case the conflict impacts travelers from the US, Europe, and the Middle East throughout the rest of the year.
Ardhana explained, “Tourists from Europe and the Middle East can still come via other routes, but transportation costs become more expensive.” He confirmed that Australia remains the most stable market for Bali.
Tourists from Australia are considered relatively less affected by global dynamics in terms of travel access, though the cost of fuel has already been impacting day-to-day life in the country.
Ardhana noted that travel from China, India, and Japan remains stable and that these markets could help support Bali’s travel industry if the number of arrivals from the US, Europe, and the Middle East should drop. Travelers from South Korea have also shown increasing interest in vacations in Bali since the pandemic and are now deemed an important demographic.
Ardhana explained, “Coincidentally, the market I’m working on in ASEAN has not experienced any disruptions to date. Both individual and group tourists continue to come. India is also consistent and has the potential to grow even bigger in the future.”
He noted that there has been a reduction in the number of charter flights from China, but that connectivity is slowly improving.
Ardhana explained, “Previously, Chinese tourists came by charter flight, which was cheaper. A single visit could be as large as 400 to 800 people. After the pandemic, charters decreased, so now the dominant tourist destination is FIT (Free Independent Traveler) and family tourism.”
He concluded, “Japan is actually very good. It used to be busy, but recently it has decreased. Hopefully, it can return to its previous level, especially now that direct flights are available.”
“Financially, Japanese tourists are also not a problem and can afford long-distance travel, while getting to Bali only takes about 6-7 hours.”
For tourists traveling to Bali, the island is likely to feel more diverse than ever this year in terms of fellow holidaymakers.
With demand for travel to Bali increasing, tourists are advised to book their trips in advance and to take out fully comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking. This helps secure the best rates and cover travelers in the event of travel disruptions.
This week, the Acting Head of the Badung Regency Tourism Office, Ni Kadek Ari Armaeni, stated that tourist visits to Badung Regency, home to resorts like Uluwatu, Canggu, and Seminyak, had increased through March 2026 compared to the same period last year.
There are hopes that this slow and steady growth will increase throughout the year, meaning tourists must book their preferred accommodation ASAP to avoid disappointment.
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