Badung Regency Wins Two Tourism Awards, Unveils Plan to Develop Northern Bali
Badung Regency in Bali received two Best Regency Destination Awards—for accessibility and attraction—at the Indonesia Tourism Marketing Week Conference 2026. The regency is pursuing a 'Beyond the South' strategy to spread tourism benefits to northern Badung and has outlined plans for new roads and integrated transport.
The Badung Regency government in Bali has received two Best Regency Destination Awards 2026—in the Accessibility and Attraction categories—at the 2nd Indonesia Tourism Marketing Week (ITMW) Conference 2026. Regent I Wayan Adi Arnawa said the recognition reflects the regency's efforts to shift from mass tourism toward sustainable, quality-focused tourism.
According to the regent, a key challenge is ensuring tourism benefits reach central and northern Badung, not just the heavily visited southern coast. To address this, the regency is pursuing a 'Beyond the South' strategy for northern Badung, aiming to integrate heritage sites, tourism villages, culture, and agrotourism through improved infrastructure connectivity.
Planned projects include the Southern Ring Road (JLS), a shortcut route connecting Berawa–Umalas–Kedampang–West Teuku Umar, and an integrated transport system featuring a coastal tram, water taxis, and feeder buses. Officials say these accessibility improvements are designed to ease traffic congestion while opening new economic opportunities for small businesses, agriculture, and homestay operators in tourism villages.
Things to Consider
Travelers looking to avoid congestion in southern Badung may consider including emerging tourism villages, cultural sites, and agrotourism spots in northern Badung in their itineraries as these areas develop. Since the new roads and transport systems (tram, water taxi, feeder buses) are long-term projects, visitors should currently plan travel based on existing infrastructure and allow extra time when moving through congested southern areas like Kuta and Seminyak.
Source: ANTARA News Bali