Entering its 12th edition, the Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2026 host committee aims to showcase not only the event’s consistency, but also how Indonesia and Bali are building global confidence through smarter promotion, active diplomacy, stronger governance, and improved destination quality.

BBTF 2026 will take place on May 28-30, 2026 at the Bali International Convention Centre, with the theme Redefining Indonesia’s Gastronomy Journey: A Celebration of Taste, Cultures, and Sustainable Heritage.

Speaking at the Road to BBTF 2026 in Bali recently, I Putu Winastra, head of the BBTF 2026 committee and chairman of ASITA Bali Chapter, said: “We enter this year’s BBTF amid a global landscape that is not entirely stable. Geopolitical tensions, including those in the Middle East, have begun to affect travel confidence, flight routes, and industry operational costs. We all understand that tourism is the sector that feels these impacts most rapidly; yet for Bali, this sector is the backbone of the economy and the livelihood of its people. However, it is precisely in situations like these that a destination is truly tested – and Bali understands that role.

He continued: “We should be proud that Bali continues to receive global recognition, including being named the World’s Leading Destination by the World Travel Awards and consistently appearing in the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards. Yet, we must also realise that awards are not the ultimate goal. The question is – how do we maintain that position? Is it enough to simply focus on international promotion? It is about balance between how we are perceived by the world, and how we manage ourselves as a destination. And this is exactly where BBTF becomes relevant.”

According to Putu, BBTF, in its 12th year, should be recognised not merely as an annual industry event, but as a strategic platform capable of aligning tourism industry realities, policy direction, and market expectations, adding that Bali’s competitiveness cannot be sustained by promotion alone but must be demonstrated through destination readiness in addressing issues such as waste, traffic congestion, and overall visitor experience.

On the choice of theme, he said: “Gastronomy is the strongest way to tell a story about Indonesia – through taste, culture and identity.”

Meanwhile, Heru Hartanto Subolo, director general of information and public diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underlined that global confidence in Indonesia must be built through diplomacy, consistent communication, and actively managed reputation, with gastronomy as a universal language capable of building narratives, strengthening people-to-people connections, and encouraging repeat visits.

Ni Made Ayu Marthini, deputy for marketing at the Indonesia Ministry of Tourism (MoT), acknowledged the importance of strengthening Indonesia’s global tourism position through more adaptive strategies, a focus on quality, and integrated promotional support. The MoT will support BBTF promotion through multiple media platforms and familiarisation trip programmes.

BBTF 2026 aims to welcome 400 buyers from 47 countries and 250 sellers, and will offer buyers a number of post-tour programmes both in Bali and beyond.