Bali's Off-Season Boom: International Tourism Demand Surges 22%

Latest data released on March 8, 2025 shows that Bali’s international tourism demand continues to rise even during the off-season.

According to statistics from Bali’s International Airport Immigration Office, the number of arrivals and departures at Bali International Airport in January 2025 increased by 22% compared to the same period in 2024. Alexander Maxwell, Head of Information and Communication Technology at the Immigration Office, revealed that a total of 611,603 people arrived in Bali and 632,833 departed in January 2025. Typically, departures exceed arrivals in January as tourists return home after Christmas and New Year holidays.

Maxwell stated that foreign tourists remain the main source of arrivals, reaching 540,122, a 27% year-on-year increase. The number of Indonesian citizens arriving also grew by 30%, reaching 53,490, while crew members increased by 20% to 17,991.

In January 2025, Bali’s top international tourist source countries remained similar to previous years, with the top 10 being:

1. Australia (139,577)
2. China (61,984, including Hong Kong and Taiwan)
3. India (36,514)
4. South Korea (35,172)
5. Russia (26,794)
6. Malaysia (21,771)
7. United Kingdom (20,569)
8. United States (18,627)
9. Singapore (15,942)
10. Japan (12,112)

Bali Governor Wayan Koster noted that tourism significantly impacts Indonesia’s overall economy, even during the off-season. In 2024, Bali contributed IDR 107 trillion to the national tourism industry, accounting for 44% of foreign exchange earnings. Koster emphasized that Bali’s economy is highly dependent on tourism and stressed the need for economic restructuring to balance tourism and non-tourism sectors.

Tourism accounts for 66% of Bali’s income. Koster expressed optimism about the increase in international tourists over the past 12 months but voiced concerns about the slow growth in domestic tourism demand. In 2024, Bali welcomed only 9.4 million domestic tourists, far below the pre-pandemic level of over 10.5 million annually.

Koster attributed the slow recovery of domestic tourism to the incomplete economic recovery and high domestic airfare prices, which not only affect Indonesian citizens but also discourage international tourists from exploring other parts of Indonesia. The high cost of domestic flights poses a significant barrier for budget-conscious travelers.