Bamsoet Says Global Geopolitical Crisis Has Not Yet Impacted Bali Tourism

An Indonesian House of Representatives member has asserted that the geopolitical crises currently afflicting various regions of the world have so far not had a significant impact on Bali’s tourism sector. The geopolitical crises in question include the escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict, which has triggered global economic uncertainty and a weakening of the rupiah exchange rate against the United States dollar. The Iran-Israel conflict, which has heated up again recently, has driven world energy prices higher, triggered global financial market volatility, and increased concerns about an international economic slowdown. In Indonesia, this pressure has contributed to the weakening of the rupiah exchange rate, which at one point moved to reach Rp 18,000 per US dollar. Despite this, Bali continues to show strong resilience as Indonesia’s premier international tourist destination. The flow of foreign tourist arrivals continues to increase and tourism economic activity is moving stably amidst various external pressures shaking the world economy. “The world geopolitical situation does indeed raise concerns for various economic sectors. However, up to now Bali has demonstrated extraordinary resilience. Foreign tourists continue to come in large numbers because Bali’s appeal has become part of the world tourism destination that is difficult to replace,” said Bamsoet in a written statement on Monday (15/6/2026). The 15th Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly explained that Bali’s tourism industry has been tested for years in facing various global challenges, ranging from the international financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, to global economic turmoil. This experience has made tourism industry players in Bali more adaptive in developing marketing strategies, diversifying tourist markets, and improving service quality to remain competitive at the international level. “We can see how Bali’s tourism businesses move quickly to read market changes. When one market experiences a slowdown, they are able to shift their focus to another growing market. This flexibility is what makes Bali’s tourism industry resilient in facing various crises,” said Bamsoet. The 20th Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that the weakening rupiah also has a positive impact on tourism foreign exchange receipts. Every dollar spent by foreign tourists in Bali yields a higher exchange value in rupiah. This situation provides benefits for businesses in hospitality, restaurants, tourist transportation, MSME players, the creative industry, and workers who depend on the tourism sector for their income. “As long as domestic inflation is kept under control and national security stability can be maintained, the weakening rupiah can actually be a momentum to increase the competitiveness of Indonesian tourist destinations in the international market. The most important thing is to maintain service quality and tourist comfort,” said Bamsoet. He added that the central and regional governments need to continue capitalising on the momentum of high foreign tourist visits by strengthening international promotion, improving the quality of tourism-supporting infrastructure, expanding flight connectivity, and ensuring the environmental and cultural sustainability of Bali is maintained. These steps are important so that tourism growth not only produces short-term economic benefits but also provides a sustainable impact for the welfare of the community. “Global geopolitical crises will always come and go. However, as long as Indonesia is able to maintain national stability, tourist destination security, service quality, and distinctive cultural appeal, Bali will remain a world tourism attraction. Even amidst global uncertainty, Bali actually has the opportunity to strengthen its position as one of the best tourism destinations in the world,” concluded Bamsoet.