Bali Tops Asia as Most Popular Wedding Destination
- 13 Agt 2026 23:03 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Poin Utama
- Bali remains Asia’s most popular wedding tourism destination, ahead of Phuket, the Maldives, Udaipur, and Kyoto.
- Wedding tourism in Bali continues to grow, with around 2,500–3,000 weddings annually handled by BWA members alone.
RRI.CO.ID, Sanur - Bali continues to hold the top spot as Asia’s most popular wedding tourism destination. The Island of the Gods is followed by Phuket (Thailand), the Maldives, Udaipur (India), and Kyoto (Japan).
The Chairperson of the Bali Wedding Association (BWA), Veronika Ika Prawasti, acknowledged that Bali still exerts an extraordinary magnetism for couples, both domestic and international. This is evidenced by the high volume of weddings held on the island.
“The market is very open. Because Bali is always a popular global destination, many people who have never visited still want to get married here. So, in my view, the prospects remain bright,” she told reporters during the inauguration of the BWA board for the 2026–2030 term in Sanur, Bali, on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
“However, we also need to stay alert, as competition is emerging from several countries. In Southeast Asia, for example, Vietnam is starting to rise, Thailand has long been our competitor, and other countries like the United Arab Emirates are also in the mix. Moreover, many nations are now pushing their industry players to be more aggressive in marketing,” she added.
Veronika noted that Singapore, Australia, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, the United States, and several European countries remain Bali’s largest markets for wedding events. She added that the number of weddings in Bali has been increasing annually.
“In my opinion, this year is a good one because the numbers keep rising. But in Bali, there are seasonal patterns and most weddings take place between April and October, while November to March sees a decline,” she explained.
She estimated that the total number of weddings in Bali reaches around 3,000 per year. This figure is based on an average of 40 to 50 weddings handled by a single Wedding Organizer (WO).
That number is likely higher than initial estimates, especially when including weddings organized by WOs not affiliated with the BWA. Currently, the BWA represents 122 members. “Thousands of weddings, between 2,500 and 3,000, are handled only by BWA members. That doesn’t include non-members,” she said.
“That’s why, as an association, we encourage all WO operators to join us. Our role is to serve as an umbrella that protects and supports members, so if any issues arise, we can provide advocacy or protection for those WOs,” added Veronika.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Regional Management Board of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, acknowledged that market trends remain very positive. He emphasized the need for the right strategies to convert this momentum into sustained opportunities.
“Given the current state of tourism, what should our colleagues working in Wedding Organizers prepare for?” he asked. “We’re now seeing foreign WOs entering Bali, which is certainly something that needs attention.”
When asked about competition, Tjokorda confirmed that such dynamics are inevitable in the wedding tourism sector. He stressed that this situation also calls for greater responsiveness from the government, as the regulator, in streamlining wedding procedures in Bali.
“This way, WO operators can clearly calculate the costs involved, eliminating any gray areas,” he concluded. (Annaila Azzahra-EN)
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