Indonesia, particularly Bali, may be poised to attract foreign tourists as armed conflict continues between Thailand and Cambodia. With growing concerns over safety in parts of Southeast Asia, the Island of the Gods is seen as a stable and appealing alternative for international travellers.
Perry Markus, Secretary of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) for Bali Province, said that Bali has the potential to welcome visitors who are redirecting their holidays from Thailand due to the ongoing conflict.
“This trend could occur because tourists want to travel to safe and comfortable destinations,” Perry stated in Denpasar, Bali, as quoted by Antara on Sunday, 27 July 2025.
The conflict, which broke out in the border region between Thailand and Cambodia on Thursday, 24 July 2025, has so far claimed more than 30 lives and displaced over 200,000 people. Skirmishes between defence forces in the disputed Emerald Triangle region, which spans parts of Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, have now continued into their fourth day.
According to Reuters, leaders from Thailand and Cambodia are expected to attend mediation talks in Malaysia on Monday, 28 July 2025. This meeting follows rising diplomatic tensions that began with a fatal border incident in May.
The talks are scheduled for 3:00 PM local time, with Thailand’s Acting Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, heading the Thai delegation.
Bali’s Tourism Sector Encouraged to Respond Strategically
In light of these developments, Perry Markus urged tourism stakeholders and government bodies in Bali to take swift action to maximise the island’s appeal.
He emphasised the need to “intensify tourism promotions, improve services, and enhance tourist attractions for visitors.”
He also noted that Thailand remains a strong competitor to Bali in attracting international visitors, making it crucial for Indonesia to maintain its competitive edge in the tourism sector. “Several tourist destinations in Thailand are competitors to Bali’s tourism industry, which is also heavily visited by foreign tourists,” he said.
According to the Bali Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the average hotel occupancy rate in Bali in May 2025 stood at above 58%, which Perry described as a positive figure. The average length of stay for both domestic and international tourists reached 2.61 nights during the same period.
“We hope that in addition to occupancy rates, the length of stay for tourists will also increase,” he added.
Positive Outlook for Bali Airport and Tourist Arrivals
Data from Angkasa Pura, the operator of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, shows that Bali saw 11.4 million passenger movements during the first half of 2025. This marks an increase compared to the 11.2 million recorded in the same period in 2024, with nearly 69,000 aircraft movements during the six months.
Of the total passengers, 7.2 million were international travellers, underscoring Bali’s sustained global appeal. In 2024, Bali’s airport was the second busiest in Indonesia, handling 142,000 aircraft movements or an average of 388 flights per day.
Bali’s airport is also notable for being the only airport in the country served by regular commercial flights using the Airbus A380-800, the largest passenger aircraft currently in operation.
With ongoing regional instability and a strong infrastructure in place, Bali is well-positioned to absorb increased tourist interest, provided stakeholders act proactively.
