NUSA DUA — Bali Tourism Polytechnic held a Cross-Cultural Competency Enhancement Program through the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) 2026 celebration on Friday at the Joop Ave Hall, Bali Tourism Polytechnic campus. The event marked the first time the institution hosted the Spring Festival in collaboration with the Tourism Confucius Institute Universitas Udayana (TCI).
The celebration was attended by the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Denpasar, Zhang Zhisheng, representatives of TCI Universitas Udayana, partner senior high school and vocational school teachers, academic staff, and students.
The Spring Festival was positioned not only as a cultural celebration but also as a contextual learning platform aligned with the needs of the global tourism industry. Through the event, students gained direct exposure to Chinese cultural values, recognizing China as one of the world’s key tourism markets, while strengthening cross-cultural communication skills essential in the hospitality sector.
Representing the Director of Bali Tourism Polytechnic, Vice Director for Cooperation, Student Affairs, and Alumni, Dr. Luh Yusni Wiarti, emphasized that the Spring Festival reflects the institution’s commitment to internationalizing its academic environment.
“The Spring Festival is not merely a celebration of Chinese New Year, but a celebration of harmony, renewal, and cross-cultural friendship. Through this initiative, our students are encouraged to develop cultural sensitivity, global openness, and readiness to work in a multicultural tourism industry,” she said.
She added that 2026 marks the Year of the Golden Horse, symbolizing energy, courage, and progress—values aligned with the Polytechnic’s commitment to expanding international networks and strengthening global collaboration.
This year’s celebration was further highlighted by the presence of the China Center at Bali Tourism Polytechnic. The center serves as a strategic platform to enhance cultural exchange, student mobility programs, culinary collaboration, and wellness development initiatives. Through this facility, cooperation between Bali Tourism Polytechnic and educational institutions in China is expected to become more structured, sustainable, and impactful.
Meanwhile, Chair of the 2026 Chinese New Year Celebration and Indonesian Director of TCI Universitas Udayana, Dr. I Gusti Ngurah Widyatmaja, stated that the Spring Festival represents an inclusive moment of togetherness and reflects unity in diversity.
“The Year of the Horse symbolizes enthusiasm, courage, and dynamism. These values resonate with the spirit of young generations to continue growing, adapting, and contributing positively amid global challenges,” he said.
He further noted that the Spring Festival provides a platform for cultural dialogue between Indonesia and China, strengthening relationships among academic communities and institutional partners while fostering mutual respect and cross-border educational collaboration.
As a vocational higher education institution under the Ministry of Tourism, Bali Tourism Polytechnic continues to position education, hospitality, culture, and wellness as key pillars in building international cooperation. The organization of Spring Festival 2026 reinforces its standing as a globally oriented tourism institution committed to diversity and dedicated to producing professional and internationally competitive tourism human resources.
Through this celebration, the Polytechnic hopes to further strengthen its partnership with TCI Universitas Udayana and Chinese educational institutions, opening broader opportunities for future collaboration.
Gong Xi Fa Cai. Happy Chinese New Year 2026.
