Three villages from northern Bali — Les, Sudaji, and Pemuteran — will represent the island in the international Best Tourism Village (BTV) 2025 competition, organized by the UN Tourism Agency. They could be listed among the best tourist villages in the world.
This year, Indonesia nominated 13 villages, three of which are from Buleleng regency. The choices fell on Les, Sudaji, and Pemuteran due to their unique culture, natural wealth, and sustainable tourism development. All three have participated in national competitions and now aim to step onto the international stage.
Les (Tejakula) is home to one of the highest waterfalls in Bali — Yeh Mampeh Waterfall. It also offers several coral reef spots and artisan workshops preserving traditional crafts. Les is the only representative of Bali in the top 50 of the national ADWI 2024 competition, an award established by Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism.
Sudaji (Sawan) is a village well-known to those who have visited the famous Balinese waterfall Sekumpul. However, there's more to see beyond that: wild nature, farms, rice fields, temples, and a lively river perfect for rafting.
Pemuteran (Gerokgak) is popular among diving and snorkeling enthusiasts. It's the site of the famous coral reef restoration project Biorock. Additionally, Pemuteran is one of the main departure points to Menjangan Island.
According to the Head of Buleleng Tourism Department, Gede Dody Suksma Oktiva Askara, participating in the competition is a chance for the villages not only to gain global exposure but also to raise operational standards.
"We want to replicate the success of villages like Panglipuran and Jatiluwih, which have gained worldwide recognition. Participating in BTV enhances the visibility and competitiveness of our villages," he says.
The application procedure is not just a formality. All data must be collected in English and be as detailed as possible. For example, each village must specify: the number of accommodations, the total number of rooms, the number of employees, the male-to-female ratio among them, and their ages.
This has been a challenge, especially for small villages where tourist traffic is not always officially recorded. Unlike other traditional settlements with entrance fees, these villages can be visited free of charge, making it difficult to accurately count visitors.
"In Pemuteran, visits are still counted manually, which greatly limits analytics. We proposed implementing an electronic ticketing system in some areas at least. This would help in precisely counting tourists and managing visitor flows," adds the Head of the Tourism Department.
Now we wait for the results. If even one of these villages makes it to the final list, it will be a recognition at the UN level — not just for the villages themselves but for the entire Buleleng region.
But even if not, participation has already given the villages a strong impetus. In the future, this will help attract more tourists, investments, and attention to northern Bali, which still remains in the shadow of southern resorts.
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