Deputy Minister of Tourism Presents Award as Bali Wins Best Island at RCA 2026

Magazine DestinAsian has announced the results of the DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards (RCA) 2026. The annual award, which is now entering its second decade, successfully gathered more than one million votes from 45,000 readers.

“This is a very special year for DestinAsian as we celebrate our 25th anniversary,” said Ronald Liem, publisher of DestinAsian, in a press statement in Jakarta on Friday, 13 March 2026. According to Liem, the RCA is an annual recognition of excellence in the travel industry across the region.

The award encompasses a total of 38 categories ranging from best airline to best island destination. The award presentation was attended by Deputy Minister of Tourism (Wamenpar) Ni Luh Puspa at The St. Regis Bali Resort, Badung Regency on 5 March 2026.

Meanwhile, Bali has once again won the Best Island award. This achievement maintains its unbroken winning streak since the award was first held.

“Hopefully this achievement will further consolidate Indonesia’s position as a beloved global tourism destination for people around the world. This accomplishment also serves as inspiration for all of us to continue raising the standards of the tourism industry and strengthening Indonesia’s presence on the international stage,” said Ni Luh.

The award affirms Bali’s position as a premier destination and the destination that first comes to mind for international tourists, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Bali surpassed several popular world destinations including Boracay (Philippines), Flores and Komodo Island (Indonesia), Langkawi (Malaysia), Lombok (Indonesia), and the Maldives.