DENPASAR – Bali Governor Wayan Koster expressed his appreciation to all stakeholders and the Balinese community for their continued commitment to maintaining the island’s tourism quality, a collective effort that has once again earned global recognition.
Bali, Indonesia, has officially been named World’s Best Destination 2026, securing the top spot in the prestigious Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best by TripAdvisor. Bali outperformed nine world-renowned destinations, including London, Rome, Hanoi, Paris, New York, and Dubai.
Governor Koster said the achievement proves the resilience of Bali’s tourism, which is firmly rooted in culture, tradition, arts, and natural beauty, despite being frequently challenged by issues such as waste management, traffic congestion, and perceptions of declining tourist numbers.
“Bali ranks number one among the world’s top 10 tourism destinations. This is the highest position Bali has ever achieved in history. Despite being shaken by issues of waste, traffic, and claims of downturn, Bali’s position remains unshaken,” Koster said in Denpasar on Friday (January 16, 2026).
In addition to being crowned the world’s top destination, Bali also received global recognition across several other categories. The island was ranked first as a Honeymoon Destination, placed in the Top 10 Cultural Destinations, Top 10 Solo Travel Destinations, and listed among the Top 20 Trending Cities according to TripAdvisor.
According to the Top 10 World’s Best Destinations 2026 list by TripAdvisor, Bali, Indonesia, secured the first position, followed by London, United Kingdom, in second place, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in third. The ranking continues with Hanoi, Vietnam, in fourth place; Paris, France, fifth; Rome, Italy, sixth; Marrakesh, Morocco, seventh; Bangkok, Thailand, eighth; Crete, Greece, ninth; and New York City, United States, in tenth place. (*)
