Jimbaran Conference Urges Bali to Prioritise Quality Tourism

Jimbaran — Speakers at the sixth Global Conference on Entrepreneurship and Economy in an Era of Uncertainty said Bali should shift its tourism strategy from pursuing visitor numbers to improving tourism quality at Politeknik Negeri Bali in Badung on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

The change comes as Bali’s tourism performance has often been assessed through visitor numbers, hotel rooms and occupancy rates. At the conference, participants said those measures should be complemented by the benefits tourism delivers to local communities, as well as its effects on Balinese culture and the environment.

The conference brought together academics, researchers, government representatives, businesspeople and professionals from several countries to discuss entrepreneurship and economic challenges during global uncertainty. The discussion placed the quality of tourism at the center of Bali’s future direction.

Why the shift matters to visitors and foreign residents

For visitors and foreign residents, the proposed change means that tourism success would be judged less by how many people arrive and more by whether tourism benefits local communities, respects Balinese culture and helps protect the environment. The conference discussion also linked the approach with regenerative tourism, which seeks not only to maintain existing conditions but to improve environmental, social and cultural outcomes.

Speakers said Bali was at a crossroads between quantity and quality. The preferred direction was described as more inclusive, with greater community participation and a stronger focus on sustainability. The discussion did not present a new entry rule, fee or restriction for foreign visitors; it concerned how the island measures and manages tourism growth.

The conference was held at Politeknik Negeri Bali in Jimbaran, South Kuta District, Badung, on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Its central message was that higher visitor numbers alone should not determine whether tourism is succeeding. The benefits received by residents and the way visitors engage with local culture and the environment were identified as more important measures.

Sources

• NusaBali — Indonesian news report
• viva.co.id
• research.ulusofona.pt
• villabalisale.com