DENPASAR — Bali Governor Wayan Koster received an audience from the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) Bali chapter at Jayasabha, Denpasar, on Monday (April 6). The meeting discussed plans to develop sport tourism through a running event themed “Road to 100 Years of Bali Tourism.”
Chairman of ASITA Bali, I Putu Winastra, stated that the organization is preparing a fun run event featuring 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer routes, targeting up to 20,000 participants. The event is designed as part of a sustainable tourism promotion strategy, with the starting point set at the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces.
“The theme we are carrying is ‘Begin the Journey from Jatiluwih.’ In the future, this event will be held in rotation across all regencies in Bali as part of efforts to expand destination promotion,” he said.
He added that ASITA, established in 1974, has a mandate to promote tourism destinations across all regencies and cities in Bali.
Therefore, ASITA Bali is seeking support from the regional government, including through the implementation of Governor Regulation No. 28 of 2020, to strengthen governance within the travel industry.
In addition, ASITA Bali is encouraging improvements in safety and cleanliness standards across tourism destinations to ensure consistency and quality. In the near future, ASITA will also host the Bali & Beyond Travel Fair 2026, scheduled to take place from May 28 to 31 in the Nusa Dua area.
The event is expected to be attended by 301 buyers from 40 countries and 270 exhibiting companies, along with participation from 11 provinces across Indonesia. The number is projected to increase as the event approaches.
Responding to the initiative, Governor Koster expressed his full support for ASITA Bali’s plans. He emphasized that sport tourism has strong potential to significantly contribute to strengthening Bali’s tourism sector.
“I fully support this initiative. Bali’s tourism contributes significantly—around 53 percent of national tourism foreign exchange earnings and 45 percent of total international tourist arrivals,” Koster said.
According to him, Bali’s strategic role in national tourism must be supported by adequate infrastructure development.
Koster noted that the Bali Provincial Government, with support from the central government, continues to accelerate several strategic projects, including the Denpasar–Singaraja shortcut, the Jimbaran underpass, and parking facilities in the Pura Batur area.
He expressed hope that these efforts would generate tangible benefits for Bali as a major contributor to foreign exchange, while also strengthening the island’s competitiveness in the global tourism sector.***
