Bali’s tourism story in 2025 felt a little paradoxical. International arrivals surged. Numbers broke past expectations. Yet at the same time, domestic travel softened, leaving parts of the island feeling calmer than usual and sparking online chatter that Bali looked quieter than before.
Behind that contrast sits a clear set of numbers. I Gusti Agung Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali, said the performance of foreign tourism last year was undeniably strong. Government targets were not only met, but comfortably exceeded. For him, this was proof that Bali’s appeal in the global market remains solid.
“2025 exceeded the target, yes. So the target of 6.5 million international tourists was surpassed, reaching 7,050,000 foreign visitors who came to Bali by the end of 2025. If we compare it to 2024, this is certainly an increase, with growth of 11%,” he told CNBC Indonesia on Thursday (8/1/2025).
Immigration and airport data reinforce that picture. International tourist arrivals flowed steadily from the beginning of the year through to December. The pace never really slowed. In fact, visitor numbers climbed toward the end of the year and peaked just before 2025 closed.
“So according to the data, based on Immigration and airport records, international tourists to Bali from the start of January 2025 until the end of the year, December 31, reached a peak of 7,050,000 people,” Rai said.
The domestic market told a different story. Rai explained that the number of Indonesian tourists declined by around 3 to 5 percent. That dip reduced the overall crowd levels on the island. Traffic congestion was lighter than the year before. Popular areas felt less packed. This contrast fueled viral social media posts suggesting Bali was unusually quiet.
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“What declined by around 3–5% was the domestic segment. So it wasn’t extremely crowded, it didn’t cause total traffic congestion like the previous year. That’s why it was reported as quiet, strangely it went viral,” Rai said.
He then outlined why domestic travel lost momentum. One major factor was the absence of extended public holidays. Fewer long breaks meant fewer opportunities for local travelers to plan trips. Another issue was pricing. Airfares to Bali were seen as relatively expensive, especially when compared with flights to nearby international destinations.
“Domestic numbers dropped slightly, first because there were no extended public holidays. Second, flight tickets to Bali are relatively considered expensive. They even compete with tickets to Singapore, which are cheaper, and also with tickets to Thailand and Vietnam. The travel packages there are very attractive,” Rai said.
Taken together, the data paints a nuanced picture. Bali’s tourism in 2025 was not losing its global magnetism. Far from it. International demand remained strong and even grew. But shifts in travel costs and holiday patterns reshaped domestic travel, changing how busy the island felt on the ground.
