RRI.CO.ID, Bali - BALI – Indonesia’s Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana has called on investors to expand their focus beyond Bali, stressing that the government is steering tourism investment to other regions so economic benefits are not concentrated on the island.

“Indonesia is not just Bali. We have many flagship destinations with significant tourism and investment potential,” Minister Widiyanti said at the Investor Roundtable 2026 in Bali on Friday, May 29, 2026.

She noted that Indonesia recorded 15.39 million international arrivals, with nearly 7 million visits concentrated in Bali. “This figure shows increasing international confidence in Indonesia as a tourism destination as well as an investment destination. Bali remains the heart of national tourism growth,” she said.

Minister Widiyanti warned that heavy investment in areas such as Canggu, Seminyak, Uluwatu, and Ubud underscores the need for a more balanced spread of projects. The ministry is prioritizing the development of Ten Priority Tourism Destinations and other regenerative sites to create new economic growth centers across the archipelago.

The government also highlighted global tourism trends favoring sustainability, wellness tourism, and authentic experiences, encouraging investors to seize opportunities outside Bali in response to these market shifts.

In addition to promoting investment, the ministry is gathering input from investors and business players to shape greener and more inclusive tourism policies.

Minister Widiyanti said plans are underway to develop an API-based verification system to ensure all accommodations marketed through digital platforms hold valid business permits.

Acting Deputy for Industry and Investment at the Tourism Ministry, Rizki Handayani, said the forum provided a dialogue space between government and industry stakeholders. She added that Bali’s tourism experience could serve as a valuable reference for developing national priority destinations.

“This input is crucial not only to strengthen Bali’s tourism investment ecosystem but also as an important lesson in developing other destinations,” Rizki said. (Annaila Azzahra)