2 February 2021

An online travel platform Tripadvisor has awarded Bali as the number one Most Popular Destination in 2021. Amid this pandemic situation, we are glad to hear that many people are still interested in visiting our island. According to the 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, Bali has risen from the fourth last year and pushes down London to the runner-up position.

The Awards is based on travellers’ reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants, and things to do in most favourite destinations worldwide for over 12 months (1 December 2019 – 30 November 2020) by Tripadvisor travellers. 

But Bali is not the only place in the country-Indonesia that has become the favourite destination in many travel enthusiasts’ heart. Lombok also made to the list at the 22nd most favourite places to visit in Asia.

The head of Bali Tourism Office, I Putu Astawa, said that this award is expected to motivate Bali tourism business owners to provide better services and improve self-awareness in managing the environment more harmoniously with nature. “There must be harmony between the hotel and the surrounding environment, starting from waste management and good water management,” he said.

Member of Bali Province Tourism Expert Group, IGAN Rai Surya Wijaya, added that Bali Tourism’s development must lead to Green Tourism. Moreover, this plan also has been drafted in the issuance of several regional regulations. 

In the future, Balinese people must be able to change their behaviour, so they can always preserve the environment of the island, and it will forever remain green and beautiful with a unique cultural tradition that has existed since a long time ago.

And concerning the ongoing pandemic, all hotels, restaurants and tourist destinations are expected to apply the CHSE Protocol (cleanliness, health, safety, and environmental sustainability) with discipline. So that in addition to cleanliness, health and safety, there are also elements of ecological sustainability that require every Balinese tourism actor to take part in protecting the environment.