History of Bali in Timeline

Bali is a province of Indonesia and a major tourist destination, comprising the island of Bali and smaller offshore islands like Nusa Penida. Denpasar, the provincial capital, is the most populous city in the Lesser Sunda Islands. Ubud, near Denpasar, is considered Bali's cultural center. Tourism significantly contributes to Bali's economy, accounting for 80% of its income, with tourism increasing rapidly since the 1980s which has made Bali an area of overtourism.

1906: Dutch assault and ritual suicide in Bali

In 1906, the Dutch mounted naval and ground assaults at Sanur in Bali. Thousands of members of the royal family committed ritual suicide (puputan) rather than surrender. About 200 Balinese killed themselves. A similar mass suicide occurred in Klungkung.

1906: Dutch subjugation of Bali

In 1906, the Dutch subjugated and repulsed the natives of Bali for economic control, taking over the island after 386 years of independence for the Hindu kingdoms.

1932: Release of Virgins of Bali documentary

In 1932, the quasi-pornographic documentary "Virgins of Bali" was released, enhancing the sensuous image of Bali and contributing to its popularity among tourists due to its scenes of topless Balinese women.

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1934: Looser version of the Hays code

Up to 1934, under the looser version of the Hays code, nudity involving "civilised" (i.e., white) women was banned, but permitted with "uncivilised" (i.e., all non-white women), a loophole that was exploited by the producers of Virgins of Bali.

1937: Last definite record of a tiger on Bali

The last definite record of a tiger on Bali dates from 1937 when one was shot, though the subspecies may have survived until the 1940s or 1950s.

February 1942: Imperial Japan occupies Bali

On 19 February 1942, Japanese forces landed near Sanur and quickly captured Bali due to inoperative airfields on Borneo and a lack of regular KNIL troops on the island.

1945: Bali liberated by British forces

In 1945, Bali was liberated by the British 5th Infantry Division, who took the Japanese surrender. The island was then handed over to the Dutch the following year.

1946: Bali as part of the State of East Indonesia

In 1946, the Dutch constituted Bali as one of the 13 administrative districts of the newly proclaimed State of East Indonesia, a rival state to the Republic of Indonesia.

December 1949: Bali included in the "Republic of the United States of Indonesia"

In December 1949, Bali was included in the "Republic of the United States of Indonesia" when the Netherlands recognized Indonesian independence.

August 1958: Regencies Inaugurated

On August 1958, the eight regencies of Bali province were originally inaugurated.

1958: Bali becomes a province

In 1958, Bali became a province, and Anak Agung Bagus Suteja was appointed as the first governor by President Sukarno.

1963: Bali Beach Hotel Construction

In 1963, Sukarno built the Bali Beach Hotel in Sanur, which boosted tourism in Bali. Before its construction, there were only three significant tourist-class hotels on the island.

1963: Eruption of Mount Agung

In 1963, the eruption of Mount Agung killed thousands, caused economic havoc, and forced the transmigration of many displaced Balinese people. The event also mirrored social divisions, particularly conflict between supporters of the caste system and those who rejected it.

1965: Suharto's New Order government

As a result of the 1965–66 upheavals, Suharto manoeuvred Sukarno out of the presidency. His "New Order" government re-established relations with Western countries. The pre-War Bali as "paradise" was revived in a modern form.

1970: Ngurah Rai International Airport Opened

In 1970, the Ngurah Rai International Airport opened, further increasing tourism in Bali.

1971: Ritual Classification Standardisation

In 1971, a committee of Balinese officials and artists standardised a three-tiered system of classification for Balinese rituals to protect the sanctity of the oldest and most sacred rituals from being performed for a paying audience.

January 1992: Denpasar City Created

On January 15, 1992, the city of Denpasar was created from part of Badung Regency.

1998: Traditional Society

Since 1998, coercive aspects of traditional Balinese society, such as customary law sanctions imposed by traditional authorities, have risen in importance due to democratization and decentralization in Indonesia.

1999: First free elections

Since the first free elections in 1999, the province's politics has historically been dominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

2000: Austronesian people inhabit Bali

Around 2000 BC, Bali was inhabited by Austronesian people migrating from Taiwan to Southeast Asia and Oceania.

2002: Terrorist Bombings

In 2002, Bali's tourism economy survived terrorist bombings.

2002: Bombing in Kuta

In 2002, a bombing in the tourist area of Kuta killed 202 people, mostly foreigners, severely reducing tourism and causing economic hardship on the island.

2003: Tourism's Dominance

In 2003, tourism accounted for approximately 80% of Bali's economy.

2005: DNA Study

A DNA study in 2005 found that 12% of Balinese Y-chromosomes are of likely Austroasiasic origin, while 84% are of likely Austronesian origin, and 2% of likely Melanesian origin.

2005: Terrorist Bombings

In 2005, Bali's economy suffered another blow as a result of terrorist bombings.

2005: Another bombing in Bali

In 2005, another bombing occurred in Bali, further reducing tourism and causing economic hardship on the island.

2006: Eat, Pray, Love Published

In 2006, Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir "Eat, Pray, Love" was published.

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July 2008: Direct election of Bali Governor

On July 9, 2008, for the first time in Bali's history, the Governor of Bali election was directly elected by the people.

2008: Asian Beach Games

In 2008, Bali hosted the Asian Beach Games, marking the second time Indonesia hosted an Asia-level multi-sport event.

2008: US Travel Warning Lifted

In 2008, the United States government lifted its travel warnings for Bali.

2008: Currency Drop

In the last half of 2008, Indonesia's currency dropped approximately 30% against the US dollar, improving value for overseas visitors' currencies.

August 2010: Eat Pray Love Film Adaptation

In August 2010, "Eat, Pray, Love" was adapted into a film, taking place in Ubud and Padang-Padang Beach in Bali, which fuelled tourism in Ubud.

December 2010: Tanah Ampo Cruise Terminal Invitation

In December 2010, the Government of Indonesia invited investors to build a new Tanah Ampo Cruise Terminal at Karangasem, Bali.

2010: Population Census

As of the 2010 census, the population of Bali was 3,890,757.

2010: Best Port Welcome 2010

In 2010 (Tanjung) Benoa port received the "Best Port Welcome 2010" award from London's "Dream World Cruise Destination" magazine.

2010: Tourist Arrivals

In 2010, Bali received 2.57 million foreign tourists, surpassing the target of 2.0–2.3 million tourists.

2010: Best Island Award

In 2010, Bali received the Best Island award from Travel and Leisure due to its attractive surroundings, diverse tourist attractions, restaurants, and friendly people.

2010: Environment Ministry report

In 2010, an Environment Ministry report on its environmental quality index gave Bali a score of 99.65, the highest score of Indonesia's 33 provinces.

January 2011: Tourism Increase

Chinese tourists increased by 17% in 2011 from 2010 due to the impact of ACFTA and new direct flights to Bali.

March 2011: Benoa Port Award

On March 16, 2011, Benoa port received the "Best Port Welcome 2010" award from London's "Dream World Cruise Destination" magazine.

April 2011: Scientists surveyed sea sites

From April 29, 2011, a team of scientists surveyed sea sites around Bali.

May 2011: Traffic Control System Implementation

In May 2011, an integrated Area Traffic Control System (ATCS) was implemented to reduce traffic jams at four crossing points in Bali.

May 2011: Scientists discovered 952 species of reef fish and 393 coral species

To 11 May 2011, a team of scientists discovered 952 species of reef fish and 393 coral species.

June 2011: Low Non-Performing Loan Rate

By the end of June 2011, the non-performing loan rate of all banks in Bali was 2.23%, lower than the Indonesian banking industry average.

July 2011: First Cruise Ship Anchored

On July 17, 2011, the first cruise ship (Sun Princess) anchored near the wharf of Tanah Ampo harbor.

December 2011: Toll Road Construction

On December 21, 2011, construction started on the Nusa Dua-Benoa-Ngurah Rai International Airport toll road, which will also provide a special lane for motorcycles, and the Dewa Ruci underpass.

2011: World's Best Islands

According to BBC Travel released in 2011, Bali is one of the World's Best Islands, ranking second after Santorini, Greece.

January 2012: Chinese Tourist Increase

In January 2012, Chinese tourists increased by 222.18% compared to January 2011, while Japanese tourists declined by 23.54% year on year.

May 2012: Australian Travel Advisory Lowered

On Friday, May 4, 2012, the Australian government lowered its travel advisory for Bali to 'Exercise a high degree of caution'.

June 2012: Subak listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

In June 2012, Subak, the irrigation system for paddy fields in Jatiluwih, central Bali, was listed as a Natural UNESCO World Heritage Site.

June 2012: Swedish Travel Warning Issued

On Sunday, June 10, 2012, the Swedish government issued a new warning due to a tourist death from methanol poisoning.

2012: Tourist Numbers

In 2012, Bali authorities reported that the island had 2.88 million foreign tourists and 5 million domestic tourists, marginally surpassing expectations.

May 2013: Tourist Spending

Based on a Bank Indonesia survey in May 2013, 34.39 percent of tourists are upper-middle class, spending between $1,286 and $5,592.

July 2013: Improvement Delays

As of July 2013, the tender for improvement was subject to delays, and cruise line operators were complaining about the existing facility at Tanah Ampo.

September 2013: Bali Mandara Toll Road Opened

On September 23, 2013, the Bali Mandara Toll Road was opened.

2013: Miss World 2013

In 2013, Bali hosted Miss World 2013, the 63rd edition of the Miss World pageant. This marked the first time Indonesia hosted an international beauty pageant.

2013: Cruise Liner Increase

In 2013, The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry advised that 306 cruise liners were scheduled to visit Indonesia, an increase of 43 per cent compared to the previous year.

2013: Miss World 2013 held in Bali

In 2013, the Miss World competition was held in Bali, Indonesia.

2013: Plans to build a water catchment

In 2013, to ease the shortage, the central government plans to build a water catchment and processing facility at Petanu River in Gianyar.

January 2015: Australian Travel Advisory Issued

On Monday, January 5, 2015, Australia issued an advisory due to new terrorist threats.

July 2015: Railway Memorandum

As of July 2015, no details had been released about the proposed 565 kilometers of railway along the coast around the island.

January 2016: David Bowie's Ashes Scattered in Bali

In January 2016, after musician David Bowie died, it was revealed that in his will, Bowie asked for his ashes to be scattered in Bali, conforming to Buddhist rituals.

March 2017: TripAdvisor names Bali as world's top destination

In March 2017, TripAdvisor named Bali as the world's top destination in its Traveller's Choice award.

November 2017: Mount Agung eruptions

On November 27, 2017, Mount Agung erupted five times, leading to thousands of evacuations, disruption of air travel, and environmental damage.

2017: Projected Tourist Numbers

In 2017 it was expected that Chinese tourists would outnumber Australian tourists.

2017: Garbage emergency

In 2017, when Bali received nearly 5.7 million tourists, government officials declared a "garbage emergency" due to plastic waste on the coastline.

2017: Eruptions of Mount Agung

In late 2017, Mount Agung started erupting, leading to mass evacuations and temporary airport closures on the island.

2018: Traditional Dress Mandate

In 2018 Governor I Wayan Koster issued Bali Governor's Regulation No. 79 of 2018 which mandated that city officials wear traditional Balinese dress, such as that made of songket.

2018: Further eruptions of Mount Agung

In 2018, further eruptions of Mount Agung occurred in Bali.

2018: Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group held in Bali

In 2018, the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group were held in Bali.

2019: Pre-Pandemic Travel

Compared to 2019, there was a significant decrease in international travelers welcomed to Bali, because of the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions.

2019: Eruptions of Mount Agung

In 2019, further eruptions of Mount Agung occurred in Bali.

2019: Electric Rail Network Plans

In 2019, the governor of Bali expressed his keenness to improve Bali's transportation infrastructure and considered plans to build an electric rail network across the island.

January 2020: Trip Cancellations

In January 2020, 10,000 Chinese tourists cancelled trips to Bali due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Population Census

As of the 2020 census, the population of Bali was 4,317,404.

January 2021: TripAdvisor names Bali as world's top destination

In January 2021, TripAdvisor named Bali as the world's top destination in its Traveller's Choice award.

2021: Endek Fabric Circular

In 2021, Circular No. 4 specified the use of Endek fabrics, and was expanded to high-ranking individuals in the private sector and other institutions.

2021: Foreign Residents Estimate

In 2021, the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism estimated that there were 109,801 foreigners living on Bali, with most originating from Russia, United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, France, Italy, India, and the Netherlands.

2021: International Travelers Decline

In the first half of 2021, Bali welcomed only 43 international travelers, marking a major blow to its tourism-dependent economy.

February 2022: Bali Reopened

On February 3, 2022, Bali reopened for the first foreign tourists after being closed for 2 years due to the pandemic.

November 2022: G20 Bali summit

On 15–16 November 2022, the seventeenth meeting of the Group of Twenty (G20) was held in Nusa Dua during the 2022 G20 Bali summit.

2022: Religious Demographics

As of 2022, approximately 86.59% of Bali's population adheres to Balinese Hinduism, with minority religions including Islam (10.16%), Christianity (2.55%), and Buddhism (0.68%).

2022: Miss Grand International 2022

In 2022, Bali co-hosted Miss Grand International 2022 along with Jakarta, West Java, and Banten.

2022: G20 summit held in Bali

In 2022, Bali hosted the G20 summit.

2022: Medical Industry Integration

In 2022, Indonesia's Minister of Health, Budi Sadikin, stated that the tourism industry in Bali will be complemented by the medical industry.

2023: Motorcycle Ban Proposal

At the beginning of 2023, the governor of Bali demanded a ban on the use of motorcycles by tourists after a series of accidents, proposing to cancel violators' visas.

2023: Dota 2 Bali Major

In 2023, Bali hosted the Dota 2 Bali Major, a major eSports event and the third and final Major of the Dota Pro Circuit season. It was the first time a Dota Pro Circuit Major was held in Indonesia.