There is no fresh property, visa or tax event out of Bali in the last 24 hours — it is a quiet day. So today we cover three themes that set the demand and rules backdrop for 2026: the national bet on wellness tourism (a direct tailwind for Ubud), a provincial "quality tourism" regulation in the works with proof-of-funds checks on entry, and plans to expand the island's main airport. None of these is a "today" event: they are trends and processes worth preparing for in advance.
Indonesia bets on wellness tourism as a driver of competitiveness
On 26 July 2026 Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism set a course to develop wellness tourism (health-oriented travel: yoga, spa, detox, retreats) as a driver of the country's global competitiveness. The plan is to build a whole ecosystem: better destinations, service standards, product innovation, investment, promotion and workforce training. The target audience the ministry names is millennials and Gen Z, who increasingly travel for experiences and well-being.
Numbers sit behind the statement. On 2024 data, wellness tourism accounted for 13.35% of foreign arrivals to Indonesia. The Global Wellness Institute values the global wellness-tourism market at $6.8 trillion for 2024, projected to grow to $9.75 trillion by 2029; Indonesia is Southeast Asia's largest wellness economy, valued at around $55.77 billion. A local marker is the Bali Wellness and Beauty Expo 2026, held on 5 June 2026 in the Sanur special economic zone in Denpasar.
An important caveat: this is a declared national strategy and a market trend, not a regulatory decision and not a guarantee of any specific yield. The figures cited are market estimates (Global Wellness Institute) and 2024 ministry data, not a promise of future rental income.
Source: Antara News
This is a macro argument that maps straight onto Ubud's positioning — Bali's long-standing wellness-tourism capital (yoga studios, retreats, healing centres). A growing, high-spend wellness segment supports demand for quality rentals and longer stays in wellness locations specifically, rather than the mass beach flow of the south. It is a demand backdrop, not a promise of numbers: who lives in Ubud and who the demand targets is covered in life in Ubud; how Ubud compares with Canggu for a buy-to-let is in Ubud or Canggu. How these inputs turn into an actual yield model, on real parameters, is in the ROI calculator. DOMA's villas in Ubud — the Mirador project.
Bali prepares a "quality tourism" regulation: proof-of-funds checks on entry
In parallel, the province is preparing its own entry rules. Bali governor Wayan Koster is advancing a provincial regulation on organising "quality tourism" (Raperda tentang Penyelenggaraan Pariwisata Berkualitas): the draft was tabled at a plenary session of the Bali parliament on 6 April 2026, adoption is expected within 2026, and the technical regulations are still being drafted. The legal basis is the existing Perda No. 5/2020 on Balinese cultural tourism and Governor's Regulation No. 28/2020; the stated aim is "quality, culture-centred and dignified" tourism and curbing misconduct by visitors.
What the draft proposes to require of a tourist on entry: a bank statement for the previous three months confirming available funds, a return or onward ticket, a confirmed accommodation booking (hotel, villa or guesthouse), insurance for the whole stay, and a clear travel plan. There is no fixed monetary minimum in the draft — officials promise "internal benchmarks" that account for the number of days, the type of accommodation and the nature of the trip; checks are planned to be selective, risk-based, at Ngurah Rai airport, with data possibly submitted digitally in advance.
A material caveat: the full text of the draft has not been published, the specific enforcement mechanisms are not finalised, and most of the listed offences are already punishable under existing Indonesian law. So it is too early to present this as a law in force — it is an ongoing 2026 legislative process.
Source: The Traveler; Hey Bali
For anyone flying to Bali to view properties, close a deal or plan a move and a long stay, the practical takeaway is simple: entry is becoming more "filtered". Keep a bank statement, a return ticket, a confirmed booking and insurance to hand — that is usually what is asked for. More broadly, this is the same course as the tightening on visas and on foreign PT PMAs: Bali is betting on the "quality" guest and resident, which means on legal grounds for staying and owning. What actually gives you the right to live and work alongside your villa is covered in our explainer on KITAS and the visa for a villa owner.
Ngurah Rai airport to expand to 32 million passengers by 2031
The third theme is connectivity, the main bottleneck for rental demand. Bali's main airport, I Gusti Ngurah Rai, is planned to expand from around 25 million to 32 million passengers a year by 2031 — roughly +28% capacity. The operator is PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia (InJourney Airport) together with the Ministry of Transport. The urgency is clear: in 2026 the airport expects around 24.9 million passengers — effectively at its design ceiling.
The expansion will happen without building new terminals: by repurposing vacant terminal space, reconfiguring domestic and international zones, and a pedestrian bridge from arrivals to the car park. The growth driver is new international routes — Etihad, Saudia, Sichuan Airlines and T'Way Air are named, i.e. direct flights from the Middle East, China and Korea.
A caveat on timing: this is a plan with a 2031 horizon, not a done deal; the final parameters and dates may be adjusted.
Source: Bali Discovery; Indonesia Expat
Airport capacity and direct routes are the foundation of rental demand: without guests there is no occupancy. Growing capacity by 2031 and new direct flights from key DOMA geographies (the Middle East, China, Korea) support guest inflow on top of the traditional flow from Australia and Europe. For a buy-to-let purchaser, this is an argument to model demand over the long run, not just for the current season. How connectivity and guest profile shape the choice of location is unpacked in Ubud or Canggu; your own occupancy and rate scenario is easy to sketch in the ROI calculator.
Every Saturday this week's digests become a free PDF magazine. Download the latest issue.