Nusa Dua – Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism, Ms. Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, paid an official visit to Bali Tourism Polytechnic (Poltekpar Bali) on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Accompanied by the Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism, Made Marthini, the Minister was warmly welcomed by the Director of Poltekpar Bali, Dr. Drs. Ida Bagus Putu Puja, M.Kes, along with the management team at Hotel Kamala Bali’s lobby. Her presence was enthusiastically received by the institution’s leadership, faculty members, and students.
During the visit, Minister Widiyanti toured several of the campus’s flagship facilities. One of the key stops was Hotel Kamala Bali, which serves as a student training laboratory. There, she observed firsthand how students are trained in professional hotel operations. The Minister also met with key stakeholders, including representatives from the China and Korea Centers, and greeted delegates from the Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, Salzburg-Austria, who were participating in a Summer School program at Poltekpar Bali. She expressed her pride in the institution’s ability to serve as a state tourism university that actively fosters international partnerships.
Minister Widiyanti also visited Ganesha Restaurant, a training facility where students practice international-standard restaurant service. Students from the Food and Beverage Service (TAH) Study Program showcased their skills in preparing a variety of beverages, including coffee, mocktails, and cocktails. Impressed by their abilities, the Minister took the time to sample their creations.
In the practical kitchen area, Minister Widiyanti was captivated by the modern and fully equipped kitchen facilities, which align with current industry standards. She even joined students in a hands-on cake decorating session, describing the experience as both enjoyable and a reflection of the institution’s highly practical teaching approach.
This visit was part of the Minister’s broader agenda to strengthen the national tourism vocational education system. In addition to inspecting campus facilities, she held discussions with campus leaders about curriculum innovation and the evolving landscape of tourism in Bali.
Dr. Putu Diah Sastri Pitanatri, S.ST.Par., M.Par., Head of the Center for Research and Community Service (P3M) at Poltekpar Bali, presented the Minister with a book authored by the institution’s lecturers. The book offers strategic insights on declining occupancy rates and proposes a new framework for accommodation governance in Bali. Through research conducted by its academic staff, Poltekpar Bali contributes not only by producing competent tourism and hospitality graduates, but also by supporting the development of Indonesia’s tourism sector through evidence-based studies—valuable inputs for the Ministry’s policymaking.
Concluding her visit, Minister Widiyanti expressed deep appreciation for the quality of education and facilities at Poltekpar Bali. She commended the academic community’s commitment to producing professional tourism workers and highlighted the institution as a successful model of vocational education aligned with industry demands. She wrapped up her remarks with a motivating statement: “Poltekpar Bali is The Best,” as a form of recognition and encouragement for the campus’s dedication to Indonesia’s tourism and hospitality industry.
