Bali Governor Says Tourism Drives Economy at Denpasar Meeting

Denpasar — Bali Governor Wayan Koster said tourism remains the main pillar of Bali’s economy at the Temu Wirasa Stakeholders 2026 meeting in Denpasar on Friday, Oct. 23.

He said domestic and international visitor numbers provide an important measure of the island’s economic condition and growth. The meeting was organized by the Bank Indonesia representative office in Bali at Gedung Dharma Negara Alaya.

Koster said tourism contributed about 66 percent of Bali’s economy in 2025. He described visitor arrivals as a straightforward way to assess whether the economy is performing well, while emphasizing both foreign and domestic travelers.

Visitor numbers remain a key measure of Bali’s economy

For visitors and foreign residents, the remarks underline how closely Bali’s economic performance remains tied to tourism activity. Changes in arrivals affect the businesses and services that depend on travelers, including accommodation, food and drink, transport and other parts of the visitor economy.

The meeting’s theme was “Data Pramana, Bali Rahayu: Bersinergi Mendorong Pertumbuhan Bali yang Lebih Tinggi dan Berdaya Tahan.” Bank Indonesia assessed Bali’s economy as continuing to be supported by agriculture, construction, trade, and accommodation and food-and-drink activities. Tourism-related sectors, including accommodation, food and drink, transport and warehousing, were also identified as continuing supports for the regional economy.

Koster’s comments placed visitor data at the center of that assessment. He said the number of foreign and domestic tourists, and whether those numbers rise or fall, can be used to judge Bali’s economic trajectory.

Sources

• Bali Post — Balinese news outlet
• NusaBali — Balinese news outlet
• bali.tribunnews.com
• metrotvnews.com