ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Bali, long celebrated as the Island of the Gods and Indonesia’s crown jewel of tourism, has lost its long-held throne.
In the prestigious Reader’s Choice Awards 2025 by Condé Nast Traveler, Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam has been crowned the Most Beautiful Island in Asia, overtaking Bali’s dominant position for the first time.
Phu Quoc earned an impressive 95.51 points, up 0.15 from the previous year. Langkawi Island in Malaysia secured the second spot, followed by Koh Samui in Thailand at third place. Boracay and Palawan in the Philippines ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. Meanwhile, Bali dropped to sixth place, marking its lowest position in the past decade.
This shift signals a decline in Bali’s global popularity among travelers. The Condé Nast Traveler survey, which gathered opinions from more than 757,000 readers worldwide, evaluated destinations based on personal travel experiences across cities, islands, hotels, resorts, cruises, spas, and airlines.
In contrast, Phu Quoc has seen a dramatic surge in tourism. Between January and September 2025, the island welcomed 1.2 million international visitors, a 65.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Its success is attributed to modern infrastructure, aggressive digital promotion, and a traveler-friendly policy framework.
Bali, on the other hand, is facing mounting challenges — from traffic congestion and waste management issues to the loss of its natural landscapes. Over the past six years, approximately 6,521 hectares of rice fields have disappeared, much of it converted into villas and luxury resorts. These developments have gradually eroded Bali’s image as a pristine and harmonious tropical paradise.
Nevertheless, Bali remains a global tourism icon, renowned for its rich culture, artistry, and spiritual essence. This latest ranking serves as a wake-up call — an opportunity for Bali to redefine its tourism vision and move toward a more sustainable, environmentally conscious, and high-quality future. (AT Network)
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