bali crowned 'the best island' in prestigious destinasian readers' choice awards
Bali, often referred to as the "Island of the Gods," has recently earned the prestigious title of "The Best Island" in the DestinAsian Readers' Choice Awards, adding to its collection of numerous accolades in the travel industry.
Known for being a highly-regarded travel publication among Asia-Pacific travelers, DestinAsian's annual awards spotlight the most sought-after and esteemed travel hotspots in the region. In the 2024 edition, Bali triumphed over other renowned island destinations like the Maldives, Phuket, Koh Samui in Thailand, Boracay in the Philippines, as well as Phu Quoc in Vietnam, and Langkawi and Penang in Malaysia.
DestinAsian praised Bali's enduring charm and rich culture that continue to enchant global travelers, a sentiment it has upheld since the Awards began in 2006. Indonesia's Minister for Tourism and Creative Economies, Sandiaga Uno, responded to this recognition by emphasizing the significance of these awards, as they reflect the preferences of DestinAsian's dedicated readers.
"The DestinAsian Readers' Choice Awards are directly chosen by loyal readers of DestinAsian magazine, and this is proof for the umpteenth time that Bali is a leading destination that must be visited by tourist," Minister Uno said.
Bali Maintains Lead as Preferred Destination Over Other Indonesian Regions
TripAdvisor and Travel + Leisure Magazine also recognized Bali as a top travel destination. Minister Uno shared that Bali is poised to contribute significantly to Indonesia's tourism goals, potentially accounting for half of the 14.3 million visitors targeted for 2024.
Despite efforts to promote other Indonesian regions, Bali continues to be the foremost choice for both international and domestic travelers and is expected to remain a key tourism product for the foreseeable future.
Minister Uno hoped Bali's repeated successes would bolster other Indonesian destinations, specifically the five Super Priority Destinations: Borobudur in Central Java, Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Raja Ampat, Likupang, and Mandalika.
Addressing challenges in domestic travel, particularly the rising costs of internal flights to Bali, Minister Uno noted the irony of tourists having to transit through international hubs like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, or Bangkok. He has sought assistance from President Joko Widodo to address this issue. He hopes for an increase in domestic flights to Bali, especially before the upcoming high season in late May.
In addition to the island itself, Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport also ranked fourth in the region's best airports, closely trailing behind major international hubs like Singapore Changi, Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, and Hong Kong International.
Indonesia's national airline, Garuda Airlines, was ranked sixth among the best airlines in the DestinAsian awards, with Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and Thai Airways leading the list.