Denpasar (ANTARA) - Bali Governor Wayan Koster met with Swiss Ambassador to Indonesia Konstantin Obolensky to explore opportunities for deeper cooperation in the tourism sector.
"This meeting serves as an important momentum to strengthen our friendship while creating wider avenues for cooperation, especially by fostering tourism collaboration to deliver tangible benefits to communities," Koster said in a statement on Friday.
Koster emphasized the importance of leveraging diplomatic engagements to drive local economic growth and support Bali's sustainable development agenda.
He described the meeting as particularly significant as it coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Switzerland.
During the meeting, Koster noted that Indonesia welcomed around 29,000 Swiss visitors as of Oct. 21, 2026, with monthly arrivals averaging 3,065.
"This figure illustrates how the ties between the two countries are not sustained solely by diplomacy; our relations have grown through people-to-people interactions, cultural exchange, and tourism activities," Koster said.
He expressed satisfaction with strong bilateral tourism ties and voiced hope that both sides would continue expanding economic cooperation.
"For Bali, international cooperation is meaningful when it connects the region's potential with partners' strengths, including in innovative industries, investment, and environmental management," he said.
Meanwhile, Obolensky stressed that Switzerland stands ready to support efforts to boost investment and advance sustainable development in Bali.
He added that Swiss interest in Bali extends beyond tourism to include potential cooperation in innovative industries, waste processing, and wastewater treatment.
Obolensky noted that his first official agenda in Bali included visiting Swiss-owned businesses and meeting members of the Swiss diaspora, which currently numbers around 700 residents in Bali.
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Translator: Ni Putu Putri, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Arie Novarina
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