Badung drops Rp900 million tourism sales mission to Fujisawa, Japan
Badung Regency has scrapped a Rp900 million tourism sales mission to Fujisawa, Japan, planned for October 2026, after finding that permits, legal cooperation documents and industry participation could not be completed in time.
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· Event date: · 4 min read
Badung, Bali — — Badung Regency has confirmed it will not proceed with a planned tourism sales mission to Fujisawa, Japan, that was scheduled for October 2026, after officials found that key administrative, legal and partner requirements could not be met in time. According to local media reports, the program had been allocated Rp900 million in the 2026 Badung regional budget.
The cancellation was disclosed by A.A. Putri Mas Agung, head of the Badung Tourism Office, in comments published on 16 September 2026. She said the decision followed an evaluation of the mission’s administrative and technical readiness and acknowledged that “one thing and another” had created obstacles as the planned date approached.
The mission was designed as a business-to-business sales program to promote Badung in the Japanese market, with hotels, travel agencies and tourism attraction operators expected to travel as sellers and meet prospective buyers in Fujisawa.
Administrative and permit issues
According to the tourism office’s internal staff review, processing official overseas travel authorization, known as Perjalanan Dinas Luar Negeri (PDLN), requires at least 30 working days. The analysis noted that securing PDLN involves budget approval at the regional level, recommendations from the Badung regent and Bali governor, and submissions to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the State Secretariat.
The review also highlighted the need to obtain special “blue” passports for civil servants assigned to travel abroad. Putri Mas Agung said these procedures could not be completed in time for the October schedule, contributing to the recommendation that the mission be canceled.
Local reporting refers to the staff analysis as dated in early October 2026, after the 16 September statement on cancellation. Officials did not publicly explain the discrepancy in dates, but the analysis is described as supporting the decision not to go ahead.
Coordination with Japanese partners
Badung’s Cooperation Bureau at the regency secretariat was still reviewing a draft memorandum of understanding related to cooperation with Fujisawa. At the same time, the organizer of the October festival in Fujisawa had not issued a formal invitation for Badung to participate in the event.
Putri Mas Agung said that, without a formal invitation and completed cooperation documents, the mission risked proceeding on uncertain legal and institutional grounds. The Badung Tourism Office therefore concluded that it would be better not to carry out the sales mission under those conditions.
The tourism office also faced difficulty in mobilizing enough private-sector participants. The plan envisaged hotels, travel agencies and tourist-attraction operators joining the mission as sellers, but the office reported challenges in securing their commitment within the required time frame.
Key figures and timing
- Budget allocation: Rp900 million in the 2026 Badung regional budget for the Fujisawa sales mission.
- Destination: Fujisawa, Japan.
- Planned timing: October 2026, aligned with a cultural festival in Fujisawa.
- Cancellation decision disclosed: Wednesday, 16 September 2026.
- Required permit processing time: At least 30 working days for PDLN and related travel documents.
Next steps and broader context
Putri Mas Agung said the tourism office had submitted the recommendation to cancel the mission as material for the Badung regent’s policy considerations. She emphasized that the decision was taken to ensure that promotional activities funded from the regional budget are both legally compliant and effective.
The cancellation does not signal an end to Badung’s international tourism promotion efforts. The regency has pursued cultural and tourism cooperation with Fujisawa since 2024, including participation in the Enoshima Bali Sunset event, which is scheduled to return in early October 2026. Officials have stated in separate forums that overseas markets, including Japan, remain important targets for attracting foreign visitors, but future programs are expected to proceed only when administrative and technical preparations are complete.
Local reports have not yet identified a confirmed replacement for the canceled Fujisawa sales mission or clarified how the Rp900 million allocation will be used. Any future adjustment is expected to be set out in subsequent budget and policy decisions by Badung authorities.
Sources
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