The Bali Provincial Government plans to begin screening incoming international tourists by verifying the adequacy of their financial resources as a prerequisite for entry starting in 2026.

“One aspect of quality tourism is the amount of money in visitors’ savings accounts over the past three months,” Bali Governor Wayan Koster said in Gianyar on Thursday (Jan 1).

In addition to checking financial capacity, Koster said foreign tourists entering Bali will also be screened based on the intended length of stay and planned activities during their visit.

“This is to ensure everything is under control. When we travel to other countries, similar checks are applied, and we will implement the same approach, in line with policies adopted elsewhere,” he said.

Koster told the Tourism Minister that Bali recorded 7.05 million foreign tourist arrivals by air throughout 2025, while around 71,000 visitors arrived by sea.

He said the number marked the highest level in the history of Balinese tourism, with arrivals continuing to rise each year after the COVID-19 pandemic subsided.

In 2022, tourism business associations urged the Bali Provincial Government to reopen access for foreign tourists by offering various facilities, which led to a surge in arrivals that proved difficult to manage, Koster said.

“We must address this issue, and it cannot be resolved in a day or two. It requires patience,” he said.

The provincial government, he added, acknowledged that a range of problems have emerged, including environmental and infrastructure challenges. Rather than attributing issues such as waste, traffic congestion, and flooding solely to tourism growth, Koster emphasized the need for stronger regulations and better governance.

The central government has yet to set a target for tourist arrivals in 2026. However, the Bali administration aims to prioritize quality over quantity in tourism development.

“It is important to determine which foreign tourists are allowed to enter and which are not, so that visitors do not cause problems and instead contribute positively, particularly to the tourism sector,” he said.

“Going forward, we will focus on quality tourism, not merely on numbers, through regional regulations and improved tourism governance,” Koster added.

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