Balitrip Wisata DMC Hub has announced a series of new initiatives for the Indian travel trade as demand from India increasingly moves towards luxury FIT, honeymoons, MICE, GIT and offbeat experiences.
The company made the announcement at the Delhi edition of its 10th Bali Home Show, marking 12 years of operations in Bali. The event brought together Balitrip Wisata’s India and Bali teams, along with hospitality partners and members of the Indian travel trade.
As part of its latest initiatives, Balitrip Wisata will provide complimentary travel insurance to travellers booking its packages. The company said the initiative is aimed at adding value to its holiday packages while providing greater support to Indian travellers.
“We are launching a special idea where every traveller you send to Bali is pre-insured when you buy a package from Balitrip Wisata. We are not charging anything extra; it comes as a value add. You don’t need to buy insurance separately because we take care of it,” said Dheeraj Ranjan Kumarr, Founder and Group Principal, Balitrip Wisata DMC Hub.
The DMC has also strengthened its on-ground support for Indian travellers by placing two Indian staff members in Bali throughout the year. The team will assist both travellers and travel agents with India-specific requirements during their stay.
New MICE and Luxury Products
Balitrip Wisata also launched its annual product brochure, a dedicated MICE brochure, and a separate brochure covering luxury and offbeat experiences.
The MICE offering is designed for agents handling groups, incentives and corporate travel, while the luxury and offbeat products focus on premium experiences and lesser-explored destinations across Bali.
Herdy D Sayogha, Managing Partner and Stakeholder, Bali Operations, said the new brochures are intended to provide travel agents with greater product knowledge and ready-to-use options.
“This is not just a roadshow. This is a training, product information and knowledge. The more you know about the product, the more efficient you become,” said Sayogha.
According to Sayogha, Bali is continuing to diversify its tourism offering, with MICE, weddings, golf, product launches and corporate incentives emerging as areas with further potential from India.
India Emerges as Key Bali Market
Balitrip Wisata said India has become Bali’s second-largest source market after Australia, with around 50,000 Indian travellers arriving in Bali every month on average. According to Kumarr, Indian arrivals can reach approximately 55,000 during the high season and fall to around 45,000 during the low season.
Despite the growth potential, the company said it is focusing on quality rather than pursuing aggressive volume targets.
“We want to be a quality-driven DMC rather than a number-driven DMC,” said Kumarr
While FIT remains a key strength for Balitrip Wisata, the company is witnessing increasing demand for MICE and GIT travel.
“I can proudly say that we are number one in FITs in India. But now MICE and GIT are growing for us,” Kumarr added.
Sayogha noted that the strongest growth is currently coming from higher-value segments, particularly luxury FIT, MICE and honeymoon travel.
“For leisure travellers, it is maintaining the numbers, but the biggest growth is on the upscale segments, including MICE, luxury FIT and honeymooners,” he said.
Focus Shifts to Lesser-Known Bali
The changing profile of Indian travellers is also prompting the DMC to promote destinations beyond Bali’s established tourism hubs.
According to Sayogha, Jimbaran, East Bali and Bedugul are gaining attention as new luxury hotels, attractions and experiences develop across these areas.
Jimbaran, traditionally less recognised among Indian travellers, is benefiting from the arrival of luxury properties and international hotel brands. East Bali is also seeing greater interest as tourism development expands beyond the island’s southern areas, while Bedugul in North Bali is attracting new accommodation and experiences.
The company is simultaneously expanding its operational infrastructure in Bali. It is hiring additional airport representatives to assist arriving guests and is also recruiting guest relations staff to monitor guest activities, collect feedback and address issues during their trips.
Balitrip Wisata currently has around 45 employees in Bali and 70 employees in India, with both operations working through a common system.
Bali Hotels Respond to Growing Indian Demand
The growth in Indian arrivals is also being reflected in Bali’s hotel sector.
Dicky Taruna Tjahyana, Assistant Sales Manager, Golden Tulip, said India is the property’s second-largest market after domestic Indonesia, generating around 500 rooms per month. The property is targeting an increase to at least 700 rooms per month next year.
The hotel has partnered with Saffron Mandala, an Indian restaurant, and introduced a complimentary shuttle service to Kuta Beach to cater to Indian guest preferences.
At Dwaraka Villas, Anton Singgih, E-commerce Manager, said Indian travellers represent the property’s largest source market, followed by Australian and European visitors.
Sanur is also seeing growing interest from Indian travellers. Aye Krismasari, Sales Manager, Bali Beach Sanur, said Indian visitors are increasingly considering Sanur as a destination for their stay rather than simply using it as a transit point for island excursions.
The property currently records around 100 Indian room nights and is targeting 500 FIT honeymoon room nights.
For Balitrip Wisata, the next phase of growth in the Indian market is therefore expected to focus less on passenger volumes and more on higher-value travel segments. Luxury FIT, MICE, GIT, honeymoons and emerging destinations across Bali are likely to remain key areas of focus as the island continues to strengthen its appeal among Indian travellers.
