Kuta – Bali’s famed recovery as a global tourism hub has reached a significant milestone, with the island welcoming a surge of international visitors during the 2025-2026 Christmas and New Year holiday season, according to police data. Australian tourists continue to form the largest contingent, reinforcing a long-standing travel corridor.
Bali Police Chief, Inspector General Daniel Adityajaya, disclosed the figures during a national security briefing via video conference on New Year’s Eve. The data highlights the island’s robust appeal and its ongoing dominance in the Southeast Asian tourism market.
“Based on the data, international tourists visiting Bali are still dominated by visitors from Australia, with a total of 1,524,102 people,” General Daniel stated from the Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel in Kuta.
The statistics reveal a diverse and growing visitor profile. Following Australia, India emerged as the second-largest source market with 562,403 arrivals, closely trailed by China with 546,623 visitors. South Korea and the United Kingdom rounded out the top five, contributing 354,481 and 313,418 tourists respectively.
This influx, particularly concentrated in popular resort areas like Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu, has placed a heightened emphasis on security and public order. General Daniel emphasized that the significant visitor numbers required coordinated attention from the police, military (TNI), and related stakeholders to ensure safety during the high-density New Year’s celebrations.
“With the high volume of tourist visits, we are ensuring security measures are implemented to the maximum so that public security and order remain safe and conducive,” he affirmed.
The national security briefing, led by National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, was attended by key regional figures including Bali’s Vice Governor I Nyoman Giri Prasta and the Commander of the Udayana Military Command, Major General TNI Piek Budyakto.
The data underscores Bali’s successful navigation beyond the pandemic’s shadow, re-establishing its core markets while also cultivating significant growth from newer sources like India. For the island’s large community of expatriates and global residents, the numbers confirm Bali’s resilient status as a premier destination, even as they bring familiar challenges of managing congestion and maintaining quality of life during peak seasons.
