Bali’s Governor Koster received a visit from the Australian Consulate General, Jo Stevens, this week. As Australian tourists remain the most frequent international arrivals to Bali, the relationship between Bali and Australia is important and one that both parties are committed to strengthening.
During the meeting, Governor Koster invited the Australian Consulate and Australian tourists to support more sustainable tourism initiatives on the island.
He said he would be firm in his commitment to improving the quality of tourism on the island, both for the benefit of local communities and for tourists. He shared with Consulate General Stevens his plans to develop priority programs to promote more high-quality and culture-based tourism in Bali.
All tourists visiting Bali in the coming weeks, months, and years will be encouraged to engage in sustainable tourism programs and initiatives. This ranges from simple measures such as using a reusable water bottle to organizing a full itinerary filled with eco-friendly activities and culturally inspired adventures.
He explained, “First, there are infrastructure issues, then there is the problem of waste, and also the presence of a number of naughty or problematic foreigners.”
He went on to reference the need for Bali to become more energy efficient and energy independent in light of the recent power outages that plunged the whole province into darkness for hours on end.
Governor Koster shared, “We are encouraged not only to build power plants in Bali, but also to use clean, new, and renewable energy. This is important to support the tourism industry and the needs of the Balinese people in general.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to overcoming Bali’s traffic congestion issue, which hugely impacts tourists’ overall experience of the island. He was resolute that, above all else that needs to be addressed in terms of tourism infrastructure and management chances in the province, he will be firm with foreigners who disobey the rules, including those from Australia.
Governor Koster said, “We have worked with immigration so that naughty foreign tourists who use visas not according to their intended use will be immediately deported and if they are criminal they will be immediately processed under the law.”
Despite the firm words, Governor Koster expressed his thanks to the Australian Consul General for the many, many Australian tourists who choose to visit and even return to Bali year after year. Stevens told Governor Koster, “1.5 million Australian tourists visited Bali in 2024, and that is the highest number in history, so I think our people are very happy and really enjoying Bali.”
She added, “Bali is a special place for our people.” Stevens concluded, “We always emphasize to our residents what they can and what they cannot do.”
“There are rules that we show and emphasize to them to behave well, respect local culture, and not cause problems for a pleasant holiday.”
For Bali, Australian tourists remain the most frequent international arrivals, and for Australian tourists, Bali remains one of the most popular tourism destinations for vacation travel.
Despite the lure of newly trending destinations for Australian tourists like Japan, Bali is often seen as a home-away-from-home for Australian tourists who return to the island annually, or even multiple times a year. They stay at the same hotels, frequent the same eateries and cultural attractions, build friendships with local people, and establish communities within Bali that are nurtured even when they return home.
Australia and Bali are now better connected by flight than ever before, and by the end of August 2025, even more daily flight services will be operating between the two destinations.
In April, Jetstar confirmed that it will launch a new direct flight service between Australia and Bali. The new service will connect travellers between the Gold Coast and Bali, operating three times weekly from 1 August.
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