Bali governor seeks central support equal to 5% of tourism earnings

Sanur — Bali Governor Wayan Koster proposed central-government infrastructure support equivalent to at least 5% of Bali’s tourism foreign-exchange earnings on 17 October 2026 in Sanur, Denpasar.

Why it matters: If adopted, the request could shape central-government infrastructure funding for Bali, including connectivity, public transport, waste management and clean-water projects.

Koster made the proposal while opening the 2nd Indonesia Tourism Marketing Week 2026 at the Prama Sanur Beach Bali, according to NusaBali and Bali Post. The request was for support through Indonesia’s state budget, known as the APBN, rather than an approved allocation.

Koster said Bali generated Rp176 trillion in tourism foreign exchange in 2025, equal to about 55% of national tourism foreign exchange earnings of Rp319.9 trillion. He also cited 16.3 million domestic and international tourist visits to Bali during the year.

The governor said more proportional central support was needed because of Bali’s contribution to the national tourism economy and the infrastructure pressures associated with tourism. The proposed funding was intended to strengthen infrastructure between regions and improve connectivity.

NusaBali also reported that Koster linked the request to needs including public transport, waste management, clean-water supply and inter-regional connectivity. The reports did not describe the proposal as a central-government commitment or give a timetable for a funding decision.

The request comes as Bali continues to rely heavily on tourism and competes with other international destinations. Any future allocation would require action through the central-government budgeting process.

Sources

• Bali Post
• NusaBali