Affordable Airfares Seen as Key to Sustaining Bali Tourism, Says Provincial Tourism Office

Ida Ayu Indah Yustikarini, Head of Tourism Marketing at Bali's Provincial Tourism Office, said airfare affordability plays a crucial role in tourism accessibility. She made the remarks at the opening of the Garuda Indonesia Travel Festival (GATF) 2026 at Trans Studio Mall Denpasar on Friday, August 28, 2026.

"We hope ticket prices won't keep rising, because affordability makes it easier for tourists and the public to travel more frequently," she said.

According to Yustikarini, around 55% of Bali's economic growth still relies on the tourism sector, with tourist movement also benefiting other sectors such as small and medium enterprises (UMKM), agriculture, and fisheries. She emphasized that maintaining air connectivity is therefore essential to support mobility for both tourists and local residents.

GATF 2026 runs through Sunday, August 30, at Trans Studio Mall Denpasar. Garuda Indonesia is offering fares starting from around Rp1.2 million for travel through August 2027. This year's event is combined with the Garuda Indonesia Umrah Travel Fair (GUTF) for the first time, with the airline offering approximately 390,000 seats nationwide across domestic, international, and Umrah routes. The festival is being held simultaneously in Jakarta, Medan, Palembang, Surabaya, Bali, Makassar, and Jayapura.