Bali has recorded a decline in domestic tourist arrivals this year as local travelers increasingly opt for alternative and closer destinations, according to provincial officials. Bali Governor I Wayan Koster said domestic tourist numbers were projected to fall from 10.1 million last year to 9.2 million by Dec. 31. As of Dec. 22, the island had recorded only 9.1 million domestic arrivals. He attributed the decline primarily to a reduced number of domestic flights to Bali. Several aircraft operated by national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia and its low-cost subsidiary Citilink are currently undergoing maintenance, limiting flight availability to the island, Koster said.
“This is one of the factors behind the decline in domestic tourist visits to Bali. The number of available flights is decreasing, but the seats remain fully booked,” Koster said on Sunday, as quoted by state news agency Antara.
Data compiled by the Bali provincial administration from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport show that Garuda Indonesia has reduced the number of aircraft serving Bali from 11 to nine. Citilink has cut its fleet serving the island nearly in half, from 11 aircraft to six, also due to maintenance.
“That’s why flights to Bali are always full, making it difficult for people who want to fly to Bali because of the limited number of flights,” Koster added.
He also noted a shift in domestic travel preferences, with many Indonesian tourists most of whom originate from Java choosing destinations closer to home. Improved infrastructure, including toll roads that enhance road connectivity, has made travel to destinations within Java more convenient, he said.
Despite the decline in domestic arrivals, Koster stressed that Bali remained busy overall, supported by a strong rebound in international tourism. The island expects an additional 700,000 foreign visitors by the end of the year. Inbound tourism to Bali had increased by 600,000 visitors as of Dec. 26 and is projected to reach 7.05 million arrivals by year-end.
“This will have a significant impact on economic activity. So, if you say that Bali is quiet, the data says otherwise. In fact, it is quite busy,” Koster said.
Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana also acknowledged the decline in domestic tourism to Bali, noting that public perceptions particularly regarding weather conditions have influenced travel decisions. She emphasized that the drop was not due to Bali losing its appeal.
“Bali is not quiet. It remains busy, but with only a slight 2 percent decrease [in domestic tourism],” Widiyanti said on Friday, as quoted by Kompas.com. She added that destinations in Java, including Yogyakarta, have seen a rise in domestic visitor numbers.
The decline in domestic arrivals to Bali contrasts with Indonesia’s broader tourism trend, which has reached a record high this year. The Tourism Ministry reported that domestic trips nationwide rose 18.89 percent year on year to 997.91 million as of October and are projected to reach 1.21 billion by the end of the year, surpassing the pre-pandemic level of 722 million trips recorded in 2019. Foreign tourist arrivals to Indonesia are expected to reach 15.31 million by year-end, continuing a steady recovery since 2021 but still below the pre-pandemic peak of 16.1 million visitors recorded in 2019.
December 29, 2025, The Jakarta Post
(https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2025/12/29/bali-sees-dip-in-domestic-tourists-pins-hopes-on-foreign-visitors.html)