Bali Governor Urges International Media to Help Preserve Culture-Based, Quality Tourism
Bali Governor Wayan Koster told Russian international media that Bali tourism must be based on culture, quality, and dignity. He noted that foreign tourist arrivals reached 7.05 million in 2025, with tourism contributing 66% of Bali's economy, and called on foreign visitors to help protect Balinese culture and customs.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster was interviewed on the evening of April 4, 2026, at Jayasabha in Denpasar by Uliana Miroshkina, Asia and Pacific Correspondent for the Russian international media group Rossiya Segodnya. Koster stressed that Bali, as Indonesia's only world-class tourism destination, must maintain tourism that is 'culture-based, high-quality, and dignified.'
According to the governor, tourism contributed 66.0% to Bali's provincial economy in 2024 and generated 53.6% of Indonesia's total tourism foreign exchange revenue that year. Foreign tourist arrivals to Bali reached 7.05 million in 2025, up from 6.3 million in 2024.
Koster explained that Bali's tourism originated from global interest in Balinese arts and cultureādance, gamelan music, painting, and sculptureāparticularly in Ubud, Gianyar. Since 1963, word-of-mouth accounts from visitors spread Bali's cultural appeal worldwide, shaping its development as a destination that combines natural beauty, cultural richness, and local hospitality.
To safeguard this culture-based model, the province has issued Regional Regulation No. 5 of 2020 on Balinese Cultural Tourism Standards, and Governor's Circular No. 04 of 2023 on new conduct rules for foreign tourists, commonly known as the 'Do and Don't' guidelines.
Koster called on foreign tourists, including Russian visitors, to see Bali not merely as a holiday destination but as a shared global treasure that must be protected and cherished, so that its cultural originality is preserved for future generations.
Things to Consider
Before and during your stay, review and follow Bali's official 'Do and Don't' guidelines for foreign tourists, including dress codes and behavior at temples and sacred sites, and show respect during local religious ceremonies. When visiting cultural centers like Ubud, observe proper etiquette at traditional dance, gamelan, or craft performancesāthis helps ensure a richer travel experience and supports positive relations with local communities.
Source: Balijani.id