LKBN ANTARA National News Agency has taken a strategic step in advancing the sport tourism sector in Bali by hosting a public viewing event for the 2026 World Cup. The event, held in the Peninsula Island area of The Nusa Dua, provided a venue for both domestic and international tourists to enjoy the excitement of the global football festival in an open-air atmosphere.
The President Director of LKBN ANTARA, Benny Siga Butarbutar, stated that this initiative reflects ANTARA's role as an information amplifier and a driver of the national ecosystem. In addition to hosting the public viewing of the quarter-final match between Argentina and Switzerland, ANTARA also presented a photojournalism exhibition titled "Negeri Bola" (Football Country), documenting the long history of Indonesian football, which is open to the public free of charge until July 24.
The Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, who joined the crowd, expressed high appreciation for this collaboration. According to him, utilizing the green open space at The Nusa Dua for international sports events aligns perfectly with the government's vision to strengthen Bali's position as a world-class sport tourism destination.
Echoing these sentiments, the General Manager of The Nusa Dua, I Made Agus Dwiatmika, revealed that the enthusiasm of the community and tourists for this event exceeded expectations. This breakthrough, which involves synergy between state-owned enterprises (BUMN), is expected to serve as a new model for organizing similar events in the future, while reinforcing Bali's role as a supporting hub for national sport tourism.
The success of the event also received positive feedback from international tourists. Adrian, a visitor from Australia, expressed that he was deeply impressed by the hospitality of the locals and the easy accessibility of the area. He hopes that the concept of mass public viewings in tourist destinations like this can be further developed to provide a more inclusive and memorable vacation experience for travelers from around the world.
