Bali Governor Koster Hosts Saint Petersburg Delegation, Boosting Tourism and Cultural Ties with Russia

SUARA NEGERI | BALI — Bali Governor Wayan Koster received a visit from the Saint Petersburg Parliamentary Delegation led by the Speaker of the Saint Petersburg Parliament, Alexandr Belski, as part of an effort to strengthen relations and cooperation between Bali and Russia.

In the meeting, held on Monday morning (June 8th) at Jaya Sabha, Governor Koster expressed his appreciation for the Russian delegation's visit to Bali, which he considered a symbol of the strong friendship between Indonesia and Russia, particularly between Bali and Saint Petersburg.

"Thank you for the cooperation that has been established between Saint Petersburg and Bali. This is a manifestation of the good relationship between Indonesia and Russia," said Koster.

He explained that several areas of cooperation have been ongoing, including education, tourism, and sports. Koster also revealed that he was originally scheduled to visit Russia this June, but the agenda had to be postponed due to certain circumstances.

"I really want to visit Russia. Hopefully, it can be rescheduled in the future," he said.

Koster also appreciated the increasing number of Russian tourists visiting Bali. He said that Russian tourists are now increasingly understanding and complying with Indonesian regulations and respecting local Balinese culture.

"Some come for tourism, while others come to invest. We are very open to investment as long as it complies with applicable regulations and respects Bali's local wisdom," he emphasized.

He also hopes that relations between the two regions can strengthen through the promotion of two-way tourism. The Bali Provincial Government, Koster said, will encourage more Balinese people to visit Russia, especially Saint Petersburg.

"We need to hold regular meetings to promote tourism in both regions," he added.

Regarding the planned visit to Saint Petersburg, Koster stated that further coordination would be carried out considering the upcoming parliamentary elections in Russia. He emphasized that all international cooperation agendas must be approved by the central government.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Saint Petersburg Parliamentary Delegation, Alexandr Belski, emphasized that the relationship between Indonesia and Russia is built on a strong foundation of friendship.

"I am very pleased to be able to come to Bali. We hope that various cooperation projects can be realized, including the development of transportation that supports the tourism sector," he said.

Meanwhile, Kalganov from the Saint Petersburg Governor's Office expressed his hope that more Balinese people would visit Saint Petersburg.

He even emphasized the need to immediately accept the Saint Petersburg Governor's invitation to officially sign a friendship agreement between the two provinces in September or October 2026.

He also specifically invited the Balinese delegation to visit in September, coinciding with the parliamentary elections in the region.

"We look forward to the arrival of the Balinese delegation in Saint Petersburg. Our city is beautiful in every season, including in the winter," he said.

He added that the Saint Petersburg government is eagerly awaiting the official visit of the Balinese Governor to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cultural cooperation between the two provinces.

Furthermore, Russia also plans to send a delegation to Bali in the near future to follow up on various cooperation opportunities that have been discussed.

On the same occasion, the Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Gennadievich Tolchenov, expressed his hope that the Balinese Governor's planned visit to Saint Petersburg can proceed as scheduled.

"I believe the relationship between Bali and Saint Petersburg can be a good example of regional cooperation for other regions," he said.

The meeting took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The event concluded with a toast of Balinese wine, which was appreciated by the Russian delegation.

The visit of the Parliamentary Delegation, the St. Petersburg Governor's Team, and the Russian Ambassador was facilitated by Professor Connie Rahakundini Bakrie, Professor and Ambassador of Science and Education from St. Petersburg State University.

Also present at the meeting were the Russian Consul General in Bali, Ivan Ivanovich Zavorin, and several regional officials within the Bali Provincial Government.(Jeane Patikawa)