Pojok NTB — Indonesia’s provinces of Bali, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) have signed a five-year cooperation agreement to strengthen integrated tourism development, officials said on Tuesday.
The partnership aims to boost leading tourist destinations across the three provinces through joint promotion, improved connectivity and standardised destination management.
Head of NTB’s Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, Ahmad Nur Aulia, said the agreement reflects the shared strengths of the three provinces as major tourism hubs in eastern Indonesia.
“Bali, NTB and NTT each have flagship destinations. Through this cooperation, we expect the tourism sector across the three provinces to become stronger in the coming years,” Ahmad said.
He said the cooperation would focus on raising destination standards, including improving the quality of tourism human resources, while encouraging a regional-based tourism approach supported by better inter-provincial connectivity.
Improved transport links are expected to enable integrated travel packages, allowing tourists to visit multiple destinations across Bali, NTB and NTT in a single trip.
“Promotion and marketing will be carried out jointly. We will not only promote our own regions, but integrate tourism marketing across the three provinces,” he said.
Ahmad added that the three provincial governments would also urge the central government to support more affordable airfares to Bali, NTB and NTT to improve accessibility for domestic and international tourists.
Beyond marketing, the agreement also addresses destination governance, particularly environmental sustainability and waste management. The provinces agreed to collaborate in developing environmentally friendly tourism destinations.
“We discussed how to promote environmentally responsible destinations, especially in waste management. This cooperation is about strengthening each other for shared interests,” Ahmad said.
The partnership is expected to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of tourism in Bali, NTB and NTT, while attracting a broader range of domestic and foreign visitors.
