BBTF 2026 Exceeds Participant Target, but Transactions Forecast to Drop 12%

The 2026 Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) recorded a surge in participants and buyers exceeding the committee’s target. However, despite this achievement, transaction potential is forecast to drop by 12% due to the impact of the Middle East conflict and shifts in Bali’s tourist market strategy. I Putu Winastra, Chairman of the Bali branch of the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA), stated that the committee had to shift focus from long-haul markets to short-haul markets due to global geopolitical tensions affecting the tourism industry. Exhibitor numbers reached 286 participants from four countries and 12 Indonesian provinces, surpassing the initial target of 250. Buyer numbers also exceeded expectations, rising from 400 tour operators to 407 from 44 countries. ‘The exhibitors exceeded the committee’s target, with 286 participants from four countries and 12 provinces, up from 250. Additionally, there were 407 tour operators from 44 countries,’ he said at the event held at the Bali International Convention Centre (BICC), The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali on Friday, 29 May 2026. ‘We shifted our target markets. Instead of pursuing long-haul markets, we focused on short-haul ones. This year, attendees were predominantly from ASEAN and Asia-Africa regions,’ he explained. Although buyer numbers exceeded targets, the nature of short-haul markets differs from long-haul, leading to lower transaction potential. The key difference lies in the length of stay. Long-haul tourists typically spend two to three weeks at the destination, whereas short-haul tourists stay a maximum of one week. Due to the shift in market composition, BBTF 2026’s transaction target is forecast to drop by approximately 12% compared to last year. ‘There was a 12% decline from last year. This year’s target is Rp 6.8 trillion, down from Rp 7.6 trillion previously. The decrease is due to the different market composition,’ Winastra concluded.