Antara, Endang Mulyani, Denpasar – Bali contributed more than half of Indonesia's total tourism foreign exchange earnings, amounting to Rp170 trillion ($9.99 billion) out of Rp 305 trillion, a lawmaker said on Wednesday. The figure far exceeds contributions from other regions, which collectively generated around Rp 135 trillion.

Bali's tourism authority is targeting 6.63 million international arrivals in 2026 as the island shifts its focus toward higher-quality visitors while adapting to global uncertainties.

The 2026 target marks a modest increase from the 2025 goal of 6.5 million visitors, which was exceeded, with total arrivals reaching approximately 6.94 million.

"More than half of our tourism foreign exchange is still concentrated in Bali. This shows that equitable distribution in the tourism sector remains a major challenge," said Deputy Chairman of Commission VII of the House of Representatives, Lamhot Sinaga, at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta.

The government is expected to formulate a comprehensive strategy to further develop the tourism sector and address regional disparities. Lamhot said improvements in tourism performance must be accompanied by a more balanced distribution of benefits across regions.

He added that equitable development will be a key consideration in the 2026 state budget planning, aimed at strengthening the tourism sector beyond a handful of destinations.

Data from Bali's Central Statistics Agency showed that international tourist arrivals reached 6.95 million in 2025. More recently, nearly 1 million foreign tourists – 994,494 visits – were recorded in the first two months of 2026 alone.

Lamhot added that the growth in tourism foreign exchange in 2025 had not yet been influenced by the newly enacted tourism law passed that year, with its impact expected to become more evident in the next fiscal cycle.

He expressed hope that the law's implementation will accelerate growth in the national tourism sector, targeting a more significant increase in 2026 alongside the rollout of new policies.

"If growth reached 9.41% in 2025, I expect it to double in 2026, or at least reach 20%," he said.

He added that the target is achievable, provided the new law is implemented consistently and measurably, alongside stronger coordination between central and regional governments.

Indonesia is targeting between 16 million and 17.6 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2026. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded 1.16 million foreign tourist arrivals in February, up 13.37% from a year earlier.

Cumulatively, the country welcomed 2.35 million visitors in the first two months of 2026, a 7.77% increase compared with the same period last year.

By nationality, Malaysian visitors accounted for the largest share in February with 199,220 arrivals, or 17.18% of the total, although that figure marked a 7.17% decline year-on-year. Chinese tourists followed with 150,820 visits, rising sharply by 68.89%, while arrivals from Singapore reached 109,330, up 21.81%.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/business/bali-generates-over-half-of-indonesias-tourism-fx-earning