The 12th edition of the Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2026 kicks off today, May 28, with a gala dinner at The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali, ahead of the main travel mart taking place from May 29-30 at the Bali International Convention Centre.
Held under the theme Redefining Indonesia’s Gastronomy Journey: A Celebration of Taste, Cultures, and Sustainable Heritage, this year’s event brings together 407 buyers from 44 countries and 286 sellers from four countries and 13 Indonesian provinces.
High-level government officials, including the vice president of Indonesia, the minister of tourism and the governor of Bali, are expected to attend, highlighting Bali’s role in Indonesia’s tourism strategy.
As international travel patterns shift and competition intensifies, BBTF 2026 is positioning Bali around destination identity, market confidence and tourism value for local communities.
The momentum is also being supported by expanding international air connectivity.
New services include Jetstar’s direct Sunshine Coast-Bali and Melbourne Avalon-Bali routes, alongside Virgin Australia’s upcoming Canberra-Bali service launching on June 22. Regional access has also expanded, with Indonesia AirAsia introducing a Bali-Danang route and IndiGo launching a Mumbai-Denpasar service to complement its existing Bengaluru flight.
I Putu Winastra, chairman of the ASITA Bali Chapter and head committee of BBTF 2026, remarked that connectivity should be viewed as part of a wider tourism ecosystem.
“Every new route to Bali brings more than passengers,” Winastra said. “It opens market access, strengthens hotel demand, restaurant spending, transport movement, creative economy opportunities, and wider exposure. Our task is to protect the quality of our products and visitor experience, so that access can become quality transactions and lasting value.”
This year’s focus on gastronomy is intended to showcase how Balinese tourism remains connected to culture, community and everyday life. Organisers said maintaining Bali’s global reputation will also require stronger sustainability efforts.
“Bali is a living culture, a home, and a responsibility,” Putu said, adding that preserving the island requires cleaner environments, better destination management and commitment from all stakeholders.
The event also serves as a business-to-business platform aimed at building partnerships through meetings, familiarisation trips and post-event tours.
“Tourism is diplomacy in motion. Every visit to Bali, every meal, every cultural encounter, and every meeting between buyers and sellers shapes how people understand the island and Indonesia. BBTF gives Bali the opportunity to build trust through real experience,” Putu concluded.
Source: TTGAsia
