Bali Tourism Investment Grows 16.6% in H1 2026, but Air Connectivity and Regional Balance Remain Challenges

According to Indonesia's Tourism Ministry, realized investment in the tourism sector reached Rp39.68 trillion in the first half of 2026, marking a 16.64% increase compared to the same period last year. Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana noted this continues the growth trend seen throughout 2025, when tourism investment totaled Rp73.56 trillion, up 56.05% from 2024.

However, more than half of this investment remains concentrated in the Greater Jakarta area and Bali. The minister emphasized the need to spread investment more evenly across other regions so that the economic benefits of tourism development can be felt nationwide.

Regarding the development of Special Economic Zones (KEK) for tourism, challenges cited include limited international flight connectivity, environmental degradation risks from large-scale development, insufficient cross-ministerial coordination, and a shortage of workers matching industry needs. In response, the Tourism Ministry is in discussions with airlines to open new international routes, and is coordinating with the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs on incentive schemes to encourage new flight connections.

For Bali residents and visitors, this data signals potential future improvements in flight connectivity and tourism infrastructure, while also confirming that investment and tourist traffic remain heavily concentrated in Bali relative to other parts of Indonesia.