Governor Koster Reveals Bali Tourism Generates Rp176 Trillion in Foreign Exchange

Governor of Bali Wayan Koster stated that Bali contributes approximately 55% to the nation’s tourism foreign exchange earnings. He made the remarks during a press conference for the Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2026 at the Bali International Convention Centre, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali on Saturday, 30 May 2026.

Koster explained that Bali’s tourism foreign exchange earnings reached Rp176 trillion in 2025, compared to the national total of around Rp320 trillion.

“Comparing Rp176 trillion to Rp320 trillion gives 55%. That’s the contribution of Bali’s tourism foreign exchange to Indonesia, this small island,” he said.

In addition to contributing more than half of the nation’s tourism foreign exchange, the tourism sector also significantly supports Bali’s economy. Koster noted that approximately 66% of Bali’s economy is sustained by tourism.

“The tourism sector’s contribution to Bali’s economy is 66%, which is substantial. This data also impacts Bali’s 2025 economic growth rate of 5.82%,” he added.

According to him, tourism benefits other sectors such as agriculture and fisheries, as many hotels and restaurants use local Bali products, including fruits, vegetables, eggs, and rice.

“This tourism drives farmers, fishermen, and artisans. Therefore, its ripple effect on the community is significant. This distinguishes tourism from natural resource-based industries like oil, gas, coal, and other mining,” he added.

Thanks to this sector’s contribution, Bali ranks among the top five regions with the highest economic growth in Indonesia. He stated that the four regions above Bali are all resource-dependent areas.

“Bali is in fifth place for economic growth in Indonesia. The four above it are all resource-producing regions: mining, oil, gas, gold, or other general mining. So Bali is remarkable with its tourism,” he explained.

He added that these achievements are due to the rise in tourist arrivals post-COVID-19. Before the pandemic, international tourist arrivals to Bali reached 6.27 million in 2019.

After a sharp decline in 2020 and 2021, tourist numbers began recovering from 2022 and have continued to rise. In 2025, international tourist arrivals to Bali were recorded at approximately 7.05 million.

“This is the highest figure in history, never before achieved. This is air travel only; we have not yet accounted for land arrivals via domestic checkpoints or sea arrivals via cruise ships,” the two-term governor concluded.