The 11th edition of Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2025 kicks off today, with a Tourism Talk Show: Achieving Sustainable Tourism with Intangible Cultural Heritage. This is in line with BBTF 2025’s theme, Indonesia: Preserving Green Nature and Cultural Heritage for the World.
In his opening address, I Putu Winastra, committee chairman of the BBTF 2025, said the theme reaffirms the travel and tourism industry’s “commitment to environmental and cultural sustainability and to sharing industry best practices that safeguard both nature and heritage in tourism”.
He noted that industry players are doing more than just stating green promises; they are showing concrete proof and certifications for their environmentally friendly products and services.
“There must be proof, which will add value for (travel) buyers,” Putu told TTG Asia.
Tourism sellers are encouraged to highlight their tangible steps towards sustainability and their alignment with concepts like Bali’s Tri Hita Karana philosophy, which translates into “three sources of happiness”.
Putu said: “BBTF stands as a platform that reflects our commitment to responsible tourism, quality-driven experiences, and sustainable development. While challenges remain, our direction is clear: to promote partnerships that preserve nature, celebrate culture heritage, and create lasting value for both travellers and communities.”
Beyond the green focus, BBTF 2025 presents an array of tourism segments: spiritual and retreat tourism, medical and wellness tourism, adventure tourism, and luxury accommodation and services.
This year’s event is attended by 529 buyers from 45 countries, with the largest contingents from Australia, India, the UAE, and the Philippines. They will meet with 499 seller companies across 284 booths, representing seven nations – Indonesia, Spain, Malaysia, Singapore, the US, Namibia, and Thailand – as well as 11 Indonesian provinces – Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, DKI Jakarta, Yogyakarta, West Java, Central Java, Bangka Belitung Islands, Lampung, Riau Islands, and South Sulawesi.
There are more post-tours across Bali’s regions this year, covering Bangli to Karangasem. Additional tours outside of Bali, sponsored by Marriott International and Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation, have drawn significant interest from European buyers.
New elements have been introduced to the event this year to broaden reach and impact. The Pavilion Podcast Series is new; it is a storytelling platform for sellers to promote their offerings to global audiences.
Also new are the Knowledge Sharing Sessions, where international tourism leaders share insights. Networking spaces are larger too, to facilitate business matchmaking and industry collaboration in a more meaningful setting.
“To enhance our travel exchance experience, BBTF 2025 has introduced an upgraded digital system. Our mobile app enables buyers and sellers to manage appointments, receive real-time updates, and create more seamless and dynamic engagements,” Putu said.
