From early January until the second week of November 2025, a total of 153,000 foreign nationals were recorded visiting Tabanan Regency, Bali.
The majority of these international visitors came for tourism purposes, reflecting Tabanan’s growing popularity as an alternative destination to more established tourist hubs such as Ubud and Canggu.
This data was discussed during the Coordination Meeting of the Foreigners Supervision Team, held in the meeting room of the Tabanan Regional Secretary on Thursday (13/11/2025).
The cross-agency meeting was organized to evaluate and harmonize monitoring strategies for foreign nationals residing or staying in Tabanan.
With the significant volume of foreign arrivals, the coordination effort is considered essential to maintain effective supervision despite the limited authority held by regional governments.
During the meeting, Tabanan Regional Secretary I Gede Susila emphasized that the number of foreigners entering the region continues to rise.
He stated, “The number of foreigners entering Tabanan has reached 153 thousand people. Since the regional authority in supervising foreigners is limited, we invited Immigration and Foreigners Supervision Team to strengthen synergy and share information.”
His remarks highlighted the need for stronger cooperation between the local government, immigration offices, and security authorities to ensure systematic and comprehensive monitoring.
Development Beyond Tourism
The Head of the Class I Immigration Office in Denpasar, R. Haryo Sakti, who also attended the meeting, explained that Tabanan is increasingly attracting the interest of foreign tourists as a travel destination.
He noted that this development extends beyond tourism, with the region also drawing interest from foreign investors.
As he stated, “Besides Ubud and Canggu, Tabanan is now becoming a new target for foreigners” indicating ongoing shifts in Bali’s tourism landscape as new destinations emerge offering tranquility and distinctive natural scenery.
Haryo further stressed that all foreign nationals arriving in Bali through I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport undergo strict inspections.
He added that foreigners must also complete a standardized screening process before they can obtain a residence permit in Bali.
These procedures ensure that every foreigner in the region is properly recorded, monitored, and compliant with immigration regulations.
Meanwhile, the Head of Directorate General of National Unity and Politics in Tabanan, I Putu Dian Setiawan, highlighted several challenges in supervising foreigners on the ground. He noted that one of the main issues is the difficulty in obtaining accurate information regarding where foreign nationals stay while in Tabanan.
Many frequently move between accommodations without submitting official reports to village authorities or relevant agencies.
He also pointed out that participation from accommodation operators remains low when it comes to reporting foreign guests.
This lack of coordination complicates monitoring efforts, as inadequate reporting from hotels, villas, and short-term rentals creates gaps in a system that ideally should operate in multiple layers.
With the surge in foreign arrivals and existing supervision challenges at the local level, cross-agency coordination is becoming increasingly crucial.
Local authorities hope that stronger collaboration between local government and administrations will improve the management of foreign presence—ensuring safety, order, and community well-being amid the rising tourism and investment activities in Tabanan.
Source : Detikbali
Feat Image : via Dreamstime