During 2009, tourism is estimated to have contributed US$2.7 billion in foreign exchange to Bali’s economy, a figure equal to 42% of the total contribution made by the tourism sector to the national economy.

As reported in Bisnis Indonesia, the head of the Bali Tourism Authority, Bagus Kade Subhiksu, said that the total foreign exchange contribution of tourism for Indonesia in 2009 totaled US$6.5 billion.

He went on to explain that the 2,259,000 foreign tourism who came to Bali in 2009 spent an average of US$137.90 per person per day over the average 8.75 average-length-of-stay on the island.

Compared to the previous year, foreign exchange revenues generated by Bali’s tourism sector declined 4%, despite the record number of visitors. In 2008, an estimated US$2.8 billion in foreign exchange was produced by Bali’s foreign visitors. This decrease is linked by officials to a shortening in the average length-of-stay and lower spending levels.

Bali’s 4% decline in foreign exchange earnings compares favorably to nation-wide decrease of 11% decrease in foreign exchange earnings from tourism.