Bali Province Secures Awards from Ministry of Home Affairs for Maintaining Economic Growth
Bali Province has successfully secured several awards from the Ministry of Home Affairs during the 2026 Regional Java-Bali Outstanding Local Government Appreciation event held in Yogyakarta. According to the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, the province’s success is attributed to high economic growth and the effective maintenance of tourism quality.
Governor Koster noted that Bali’s economy is more than 60 per cent dependent on tourism, making the sector’s stability crucial. He stated that following the Covid-19 pandemic, Bali’s economy has rebounded strongly, even surpassing pre-pandemic levels. He emphasised that tourism facilitates equitable economic distribution, as hotels, restaurants, transport, and MSMEs are widely dispersed, allowing the economic benefits to reach various community groups, thereby reducing poverty and unemployment.
According to reports from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Bali, the province’s economy in the first quarter of 2026, measured by Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at current prices, was recorded at Rp 82.21 trillion. The economy grew robustly by 5.58 per cent year-on-year, contributing to the Bali and Nusa Tenggara (Bali Nusra) region recording the highest economic growth surge in Indonesia at 7.93 per cent during the first quarter.
Agus Gede Hendrayana, Head of BPS Bali, reported that the economic structure remains dominated by the Accommodation and Food Services sector, contributing 20.95 per cent. From the expenditure side, household consumption was the largest contributor at 54.15 per cent. The Accommodation and Food Services sector grew by 6.44 per cent year-on-year, driven by an increase in international tourist arrivals, which reached 1.47 million in Q1 2026 compared to 1.45 million in Q1 2025.
The awards presented to local governments in the Java-Bali region covered categories such as poverty alleviation and stunting reduction, creative financing, inflation control, and unemployment reduction. The Bali Provincial Government secured first place in both the Poverty Alleviation and Stunting Reduction category and the Inflation Control category, earning appreciation incentives totalling Rp 6 billion.
In the poverty and stunting category, several regencies in Bali also performed well, with Badung Regency taking first place, followed by Gianyar and Tabanan. Additionally, Denpasar City secured first place in its category, while Gianyar Regency achieved third place in the Creative Financing category for regencies and cities, and Denpasar City ranked third in the Unemployment Reduction category.