Badung, Bali, March 30 -- The Ministry of Tourism said it is now prioritizing Asian markets as a short-term strategy amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

"For ASEAN, the top priorities are Malaysia and Singapore, followed by the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand. Next is East Asia, including China, Japan, and South Korea, then Oceania with Australia and South Asia with India," the ministry's Deputy for Marketing, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, said.

At a press conference for the Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2026 here on Monday, she explained that shifting focus from long-haul markets like Europe and the U.S. to Asia aims to sustain tourism amid the crisis. This year, the ministry targets 16-17 million foreign arrivals after recordi...