Trending Topics & News Roundup for Bali Travelers｜September 22, 2026
⚠️ Kelingking Glass Elevator Case Enters Appeal, Koster: We Will Continue the Legal Battle
The top news for Bali travelers today remains the Nusa Penida Kelingking Beach glass elevator case, but with a new development.
The Bali provincial government has decided to appeal the earlier loss at the PTUN Denpasar (Administrative Court). Governor Wayan Koster stated that the government believes the project has clear planning and permit issues, so they will not halt legal proceedings just because of the first-instance loss.
Koster pointed out that the developer’s permits cover approximately 5 are (about 500 square meters) of cliff area, but the glass elevator project stretches about 800 meters; the government also believes some facilities below the project violate regulations.
Previously, PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development Group won its case at PTUN Denpasar, where the court revoked the administrative notice from Bali’s Satpol PP demanding the halt and demolition of the project, and ordered the government to withdraw the notice while covering court costs of around IDR 11.98 million.
For travelers, the key takeaway is: this does not mean a new closure notice has been issued for Kelingking Beach.
What’s truly worth following is the upcoming appeal process and whether the glass elevator project will ultimately continue.
🏨 More Hotels and Villas for Sale in Bali, but Government Says Tourist Numbers Remain Stable
Recently, news of hotels and villas being put up for sale in Bali has surfaced, and today the Bali provincial government officially responded.
Governor Koster stated that Bali currently receives approximately 20,000 to 24,000 international tourists daily, and around 12,000 to 14,000 domestic tourists daily. Based on the government’s daily data, visitor numbers remain stable.
As for why some hotels and villas are being sold, Koster believes it cannot be directly interpreted as ‘nobody is coming to Bali anymore.’ He noted that some businesses may have other operations outside Bali, and their overall financial situation could influence the sale of individual assets.
The Bali government is now asking relevant authorities to further verify which hotels are actually for sale and the real reasons behind these sales.
Interestingly, Koster also mentioned that occupancy rates at some star-rated hotels still reach 80% to 90%.
So ‘hotels being sold’ and ‘Bali’s tourism industry declining’ are actually two different things—they can’t simply be equated.
💰 Bali Tourism Tax Payment Rate Rises in September, IDR 289 Billion Collected in First 20 Days
The Bali Tourism Tax (PWA) has new figures today.
According to data released by the Bali Provincial Government, from September 1 to 20, 2026, the payment rate for foreign tourist taxes reached approximately 43%, up from around 35% during the same period in 2025.
As of September 20, cumulative revenue reached approximately IDR 289 billion, with an average daily collection of IDR 1.3 to 1.4 billion.
The Bali foreign tourist tax, implemented on February 14, 2024, is IDR 150,000 per foreign visitor.
The provincial government continues to collaborate with international airlines, OTAs, and other travel platforms to ensure travelers know about this fee before heading to Bali.
For travelers, this is a practical reminder:
If you’re heading to Bali soon, don’t treat the tourism tax as a ‘figure it out when you get there’ matter—handling it before you depart will save you hassle.
🔁 Bali Ranks 3rd in Asia for ‘Most Revisitable’ Destinations
This news isn’t from today, but I think it’s worth including in this edition, as it’s one of the more travel-relevant data points from recent days that hasn’t been covered before.
According to Agoda’s Repeat Trips ranking based on first-half 2026 booking data, Bali has climbed to 3rd place in Asia for the first time, moving up one spot from last year.
The top two spots are Tokyo and Bangkok, with Bali ranking ahead of Seoul and Osaka.
This ranking doesn’t measure ‘how many people visit Bali for the first time,’ but rather how often travelers return to the same destination.
Agoda suggests one reason Bali keeps drawing visitors back is the island’s incredible diversity of experiences—from beaches and natural landscapes to cultural activities, as well as yoga, meditation, melukat rituals, and more—allowing for different types of trips each time.
Additionally, BPS data shows that Bali welcomed 697,809 international visitors in July 2026, a 15.34% increase from June.
In other words, the more noteworthy takeaway from this ranking isn’t ‘Bali is 3rd place’ itself, but that once travelers come, they come back.
🐎 Suspected Animal Abuse of Tourist Horses in Canggu Prompts Investigation
Another travel story drawing attention today comes from Canggu.
A white horse, originally used for tourist rides, sparked concern over animal welfare after a video showing its extremely emaciated appearance circulated on social media. In the video, the horse looked very thin, and it was later confirmed to have died.
Relevant authorities from the Badung government, including Satpol PP and agricultural and food-related animal health units, have visited the site and are investigating the incident.
The current online claims of ‘abuse’ are allegations, and authorities still need to conduct further investigations, so it’s not appropriate to treat all details as confirmed facts just yet.
However, for travelers, this serves as a practical reminder:
When participating in animal rides, photo sessions, or other animal experiences in Bali, take a moment to check the animals’ health condition.
If an animal appears visibly underweight, injured, or unable to move normally, travelers can choose not to participate.
No discussions yet — be the first to ask.