Pemuteran Village in Buleleng Regency, Bali, has been recognised as one of the Best Tourism Villages 2025 by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
The award was announced at the Best Tourism Villages ceremony in Huzhou, China, on Friday, 17 October 2025. Pemuteran was listed among 52 villages worldwide, selected from more than 300 candidates across 75 countries.
According to the Head of the Buleleng Tourism Office, Gede Dody Sukma Oktiva Askara, the achievement reflects cooperation between the local community, business actors, and government institutions.
“This global recognition was the result of collaboration between the community, businesses, and the government,” he said, as reported by Detiknews.
Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, welcomed the international recognition, emphasising its value for community based tourism.
“I am very proud and optimistic. This award will inspire other tourism villages throughout Indonesia to continue optimising natural potential, cultural heritage, and community empowerment towards more inclusive and sustainable tourism,” she said, in a statement published on the Ministry of Tourism’s official website.
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The Charm of Pemuteran Village
Pemuteran Village is located on the north-west coast of Bali, an area known for its balance between natural beauty and community-led conservation.
The village is home to around 80% of Indonesia’s coral species, with its reefs revitalised since the late 1980s through community efforts to restore and protect the marine ecosystem.
The coral conservation programme, particularly through the Biorock Pemuteran project, has become a model for sustainable tourism.
The village also operates a green turtle conservation programme, managed by the Pemuteran Green Turtle Conservation Group.
Visitors can take part in education sessions and observe the release of turtle hatchlings, an activity regularly organised at Reef Seen Diver’s Resort.
These initiatives place conservation and environmental awareness at the centre of the local tourism experience.
Ecotourism and Future Prospects
Pemuteran’s landscape combines coastal scenery with surrounding hills, offering attractions on both land and sea. In addition to marine activities, cultural festivals and performances are held regularly to showcase Balinese traditions.
Culinary experiences also form part of the tourism offering, with visitors able to enjoy Balinese dishes such as Ayam Betutu and Sate Lilit. The dish often served against the backdrop of a sunset over Pemuteran Bay.
Following this recognition, the Bali Tourism Office expects an increase in tourist arrivals to Pemuteran, citing similar developments in Penglipuran and Jatiluwih, which have previously received comparable awards.
To prepare for growth, the local government plans to strengthen infrastructure. They also want to expand promotion and provide technical guidance. One of the initiatives already in place is the annual Pemuteran Bay Festival, which receives ongoing government support.
By joining the UNWTO Global Network of Best Tourism Villages, Pemuteran will also benefit from international collaboration and knowledge exchange. This membership is expected to expand opportunities for global promotion and strengthen tourism development.
Cover: https://pemuteran-buleleng.desa.id/
