Arts and Culture Are Main Attractions for Tourist Destinations, Says Deputy Minister

Deputy Minister of Tourism Ni Luh Puspa stated that performing arts and cultural events serve as a major attraction for tourist destinations, particularly when they coincide with school holidays and the summer vacation season. She made the remarks during the opening of the 48th Bali Arts Festival (PKB) 2026 in Denpasar, Bali.

This year’s festival, themed ‘Atma Kerthi: Jiwa Sidha Parisudha’, runs from 13 June to 11 July 2026 and has been selected for the national Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) programme. Ni Luh noted that the festival’s inclusion in KEN underscores its significance not only for Bali but also as a premier cultural event for Indonesia, with both national and international appeal.

She expressed hope that PKB 2026 would attract more than 1.6 million visitors. The festival presents a wide array of artistic works, serving as a space for cultural reflection while reinforcing efforts to maintain balance between the sacred, social, and ecological dimensions of Balinese life.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster emphasised that culture is the bedrock of Bali’s development, playing a vital role in tourism, creative economy, and the birth of innovative artistic works. The festival parade featured the cultural, natural, economic, and tourism wealth of Bali’s regencies and cities, including Buleleng, Badung, Jembrana, Tabanan, Bangli, Gianyar, Klungkung, Karangasem, and Denpasar.

During the opening ceremony, Ni Luh presented the Karisma Event Nusantara certificate to Governor Koster, acknowledging the festival’s consistent quality and its role in strengthening Bali’s cultural legacy as a driver of regional development.