Bali’s Sanur is settling into its new chapter as the Sanur Special Economic Zone for Health (KEK).
The island’s oldest beach resort has undergone a serious transformation over the last five years and is now looking to the future, exploring how to welcome new demographics of tourists and visitors.
The Meru Bali Beach Hotel is one of the most famous hotels in Bali. Speaking to reporters, the hotel’s Director of Marketing Communications, Melody Siagian, shared how the hotel is looking to host more exhibitions and collaborations to help promote Balinese culture and grow the tourism and business sector.
The Meru Bali Beach Hotel has just hosted the Ministry of Culture’s CHANDI 2025 event, which was hosted in partnership with InJourney. The event was hosted on Batik Day and showcased the finest batik fashion from across the archipelago. Saigain shared, “Our role is to support the Sanur Health Special Economic Zone. As a property located here, we want to bring better equality tourists to Bali.”
She highlighted how there is a growing demand for niche products, cultural specialties, and experiences in markets around the world.
The batik fashion show and surrounding events were chosen specifically because culturally invested tourists would be interested. The mission was to highlight Indonesian culture, attract more high-quality tourists to Sanur, and invest in promoting niche markets in new ways.
Saigian told reporters, “Foreign tourists are looking for this batik, mostly from Australia, Singapore, and also many from Europe, America, and South Korea.”
She added, “Batik is part of Indonesia. To reach the younger generation, it needs a modern touch, so it can be worn not only on special occasions but also every day. We want to show that these clothes can be worn in Bali even as casual resort wear.”
The Meru Bali Beach Hotel is currently celebrating an average 80% occupancy rate, and there are hopes that by hosting more niche exhibitions and events in the cultural, wellness, tourism, and business space, more culturally invested tourists will book visits to the area.
This comes as a second layer of benefit to the new core demographic of tourists set to visit Sanur; those who are visiting the resort and special economic zone to make the most of the world-class medical facilities now on offer.
Sanur is now home to the Bali International Hospital, which is the biggest private hospital in the province. In June 2025, the medical complex formally opened its doors and was inaugurated by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
During his opening speech, President Subianto shared, “I think (Sanur Special Economic Zone) is a breakthrough for the first time in our republic, we are planning, or creating a special economic zone for world-class, international-class health services.”
He added, “I saw that Bali International Hospital was also extraordinary. When I entered, I thought it was a hotel. Indeed, the hospital has a hotel feel. The floors are marble. What I mean is, Indonesia is a big country, a developed country, dynamic, so we must also have the best facilities.”
The Bali International Hospital is located in the heart of Sanur, just minutes from Bali Airport, meaning integrated door-to-door travel is easy.
The facility spans more than 67,000 square meters. The hospital offers 255 beds and has dedicated units for cardiology, oncology, neurology, gastroenterology, hepatology, and orthopedics. There is a full intensive care unit and an emergency ward.
Tourists can book a range of health screening packages, as well as book appointments with specialist consultants and arrange elective procedures. The Bali International Hospital has a private ambulance service and an emergency department. The emergency hotline number for Bali International Hospital is 150 919, and English-speaking call response officers are available 24/7.
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