New International Partnerships Set To Help Level Up Bali Tourist Experience 

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As Bali is Indonesia’s flagship tourism destination, the province plays a significant role in international relations.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster has met with the Turkish Ambassador to Indonesia, Talip Küçükcan, to discuss how the two increasingly popular destinations can work together to improve the visitor experience. 

During the meeting, Governor Koster and Ambassador Küçükcan spoke about bilateral relations between Indonesia and Turkey.

Ambassador Küçükcan expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome from Bali and hoped that his visit could help build upon the recent visit of Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto to Turkey.

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Ambassador Küçükcan shared his vision for an expanded partnership between Indonesia and Turkey, with Bali Province playing a pivotal role in the relationship.  “The relationship between Indonesia and Turkey is very close. It’s already excellent at the top level; now it’s important to strengthen its implementation at the lower levels, including between regions.”

Turkey’s tourism sector has seen a boom over the last decade, and national carrier Turkish Airlines is one of the most in-demand airlines in the world. It is possible to fly direct between Istanbul and Denpasar over ten flights weekly with Turkish Airlines, making the route one of the most popular options for European and North American tourists traveling to Bali.

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This route will surely soar in demand in the coming months as the conflict in the Middle East impacts tourists’ decision to layover in the region for long-haul travel. Turkish Airlines also offers a daily service between Jakarta and Istanbul. 

Turkey’s tourism boom offers plenty of opportunities for shared learning with Bali, and Bali’s decade as one of the most in-demand destinations in the world offers Turkey a lot of opportunities for growth, too. Ambassador Küçükcan explained that Turkey has extensive experience in managing its national tourism industry, with approximately 60 million tourists visiting the country every year.

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Of that number, approximately 25 million visit Istanbul, contributing US 6.5 billion to the country’s economy. In 2026, Bali is on a mission to welcome more than 7.5 million international tourists and millions more domestic travellers, too. 

One hot topic of conversation between Governor Koster and Ambassador Küçükcan was the North Bali International Airport. The long-anticipated and highly controversial project has been on the cards for nearly ten years, and finally getting the mega-infrastructural development over the line was a big part of President Subianto’s election campaign promise to the people of Bali.

Ambassador Küçükcan offered Governor Koster support for infrastructure development projects across Bali, but with a particular focus on the North Bali Airport project. He mentioned that many Turkish companies have experience building international airports in countries around the world, including Vietnam. 

Governor Koster shared his gratitude for the visit and offers of support and concluded the meeting by sharing, “Thank you for this meeting, including the excellent views and exchange of ideas. Since communication at the central government level has been established, we at the regional level also need to follow up on this collaborative relationship, particularly in the tourism sector.”

Governor Koster has had a busy week meeting with international dignitaries to help improve international relations and, in the long run, secure partnerships that will help improve life on the island for both local residents and tourists. Governor Koster also met with the Swiss Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia,  Mathias Domenig,  over the weekend.

The pair took a deep dive into a discussion on support for Balinese products and local businesses. Governor Koster told the Deputy Ambassador, “Collaboration with Switzerland can be an important part of providing innovative solutions while opening up international market access for Balinese products.”

Swiss nationals make up only a small number of the millions of international visitors to Bali each year, but are among the highest spenders. Governor Koster praised the Swiss people for their cultural respect for Bali and support of the island.

He concluded, “It’s an honor for us in Bali. The relationship between Bali and Switzerland is very good, especially since the Consul is very communicative with us.”

“Swiss nationals highly value local culture, are polite, and never cause trouble. They are very respectful of Bali.” Adding “International collaboration like this is crucial to support the transformation of Bali’s tourism towards a more sustainable and high-quality environment.”