Local Vendors Happy To Welcome More Tourists To Bali’s Kintamani 

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Small business owners in Bali’s Kintamani have spoken to reporters about their relief that more tourists are exploring the area.

Prior to the pandemic, Kintamani was only just emerging into a fully-fledged tourism destination in its own right, but with the effects of the pandemic, and a slow recovery over the last two years, local communities are relieved that things are looking up.

Kintamani, best known as being home to Mount Batur, was for many tourists over the last twenty years, seen only as a small village located at the start of the famous hike.

For many families in the area, tourism was not their primary source of income. Surrounded by fertile soils and acres upon acres of which to grow coffee crops, fruits, and flowers, farming has long been the beating heart of Kintamani. 

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As the region began to increase in popularity with tourists, more and more local families, as well as business developers, invested in establishing Kintamani as a destination in its own right.

Glamping venues were set up along the banks of Lake Batur, under the shadow of Mount Batur, boutique coffee shops were set up along Penelokan Main Road, and more farms opened their doors to tourists by launching agrotourism initiatives. 

In 2024 so far, Kintamani has been busy and bustling with both domestic and international tourists seeking to soak up their slice of the volcanic magic of the region.

Small business owners who were devastated by the impacts of the pandemic have spoken to reporters about their gratitude for tourists returning to the community. 

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Made Wisna, a local arts and crafts vendor in Kintamani, told reporters, “I couldn’t do anything at that time; it didn’t work. I just kept quiet until my IDR 35 million savings were used up for living expenses.”

Unlike many families in the area who were able to double down on their farming efforts during the pandemic and aftermath in order to sustain a living, Wisna and his family had no such orange grove or coffee plantation to rely on. 

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Wisna explained to reporters that he sets up his arts and crafts stall every day, and things are looking up.

He is less worried now about whether he has a bad sales day one day because the volume of tourists visiting the area means that a good day will always be just around the corner.

He, too, noted how much busier Penelokan Main Road has become over this high season.

Ni Wayan Bakti, who owns a street food stall in Kintamani, described to reporters how seeing more tourists in the area creates a sense of enthusiasm amongst local business owners and workers.

She told reporters how she enjoys interacting with tourists, whether they come to Kintamani from across the Indonesian archipelago or around the world.

She noted that the weekends are busiest and that due to the nature of her small business, she generally sees more domestic tourists, suggesting that international tourists either prefer to visit the bigger cafes along Penelokan Main Road or are taken directly there by their guides and drivers. 

Kintamani is a destination that really offers something for every travel demographic. With many of the attractions catered towards families and nature lovers, there is a lot to explore; a new favorite for families is The Grand Laguna Outdoor Adventure Centre.

For many tourists, Kintamani is still seen only as a day trip. Many set off early from their accommodation in Ubud or even south Bali to complete the sunrise hike of Mount Batur and then spend the morning and early afternoon completing farm tours or coffee-tasting experiences.

Staying a couple of nights or more gives tourists the chance to really explore everything that is on offer in Kintamani and see the area free from crowds.

The late afternoons and evenings are notably quieter, and the lakeside is a wonderful spot to spend an evening relaxing.

The glamping options around Lake Batur are some of the finest examples of affordable luxury in all of Bali.