The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism has just hosted its 2025 Tourism Awards, and you will not be surprised to learn that Bali has been named amongst the winners.
Headed up by Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, the 2025 Wonderful Indonesia Awards were hosted in Jakarta with much fanfare.
Speaking at the event, Minister Wardhana shared, “The Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Awards reflect our shared journey. We want to ensure that Indonesian tourism grows in the right direction, strongly and sustainably.”
This has been a huge year for Indonesian tourism. Travel data shows that the number of international tourist visits nationwide hit 12.76 million by the end of October. In terms of domestic trips, this totalled a historic high of 997,905,719; a staggering 18% increase on 2024.
Minister Wardhana added, “In the past year, Indonesian tourism has won more than 150 international awards. This is proof that our tourism is increasingly valued and relevant in the eyes of the world.”
The Wonderful Indonesia Awards 2025 presented awards in a series of categories, including Best National Tourism Village, Best National Tourist Attraction, Best Sustainable Hotel, and more.
There is even an award for Best National Clean Bathrooms, which was won by Bali’s very own GWK Cultural Park.
The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ni Luh Puspa, told reporters, “Through the Wonderful Indonesia Awards, we want to encourage improvements in service standards, event quality, and destination governance. Hopefully, this event will be the beginning of more collaboration and concrete efforts to realise superior, inclusive, high-quality and sustainable Indonesian tourism.”
Bali’s Karangasem Regency has been left with plenty of reason to celebrate after the 2025 Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Awards. The incredible Samsara Living Museum won second place in the Best National Tourist Attractions category.
Narrowly missing out on Treasure Bay Bintan in the Riau Islands, Samsara Living Museum’s win solidifies its status as an attraction of national and international importance.
Samsara Living Museum is one of the most interactive and inspiring cultural attractions in Bali. Visitors have the chance to learn about Balinese culture and the island’s ancient history from one of the island’s most knowledgeable wisdom keepers.
As explained by the museum, “Samsara is one of the beliefs of Hindus, particularly in the Island of God. It is about the stages of life, characterized by various ceremonies and traditional rituals that lead to the belief in the task of living as humans in repeated births to perfection.”
They add, “Samsara Museum is a living museum. A warm and open space that will guide any visitors to enjoy and experience the beauty, wealth, and celebrate the cultural values inherited from our ancestors and present them through love and joy.”
Following the big win at the 2025 Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Awards, we can expect to see a surge in the number of tourists adding Samsara Living Museum to their itineraries. In fact, it’s a great time of year to visit, especially during this rainy season, as many of the activities on offer take place either indoors or under shelter.
Activities include traditional Arak making, which is a Balinese palm liquor. This is complemented perfectly by the cooking class. A visit to the museum is a great starting point, and visitors can add on experiences once they arrive.
A dance lesson is a popular choice too, and a fantastic way to deepen your knowledge about Balinese culture, as every gesture and dance move tells a story.
It was not only the Samsara Living Museum that won at the Wonderful Indonesia Awards, but Dukuh Penaban Tourism Village, also in Karnagasem Rehency, too.
As an emerging tourism village, very few tourists know about Dukuh Penaban Tourism Village compared to top destinations like Penglipuran Village in Bangli. So if you’re looking for an award-winning, authentic, and crowd-free village immersion in Bali, Dukuh Penaban Tourism Village is the place to go!
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