Phu Quoc Takes the Crown, but Bali’s Story Is Far from Over
For the first time in years, Bali has been unseated from its long-held position as Asia’s most beautiful island. The title now belongs to Phu Quoc in Vietnam, which has claimed the top spot in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 with an impressive score of 95.51 points.
Following Phu Quoc, the second and third places went to Langkawi (Malaysia) and Koh Samui (Thailand). Boracay and Palawan in the Philippines secured the fourth and fifth spots, while Bali came in sixth, a notable decline from its previous number one ranking in 2024.
More than 757,000 global readers participated in the Readers’ Choice Awards, one of the most respected recognitions in world travel. The results reflect how travelers perceive not only beauty, but also the evolving experiences offered by each destination.
A Shift in the Island Imagination
Phu Quoc’s rise has been meteoric. Once a quiet fishing island off Vietnam’s southern coast, it has seen a 65.8 percent increase in foreign arrivals between January and September 2025, welcoming 1.2 million international visitors. The island has invested heavily in sustainable tourism, eco-resorts, and infrastructure designed for long-stay travelers, many of whom previously favored Bali.
Meanwhile, Bali continues to grapple with familiar challenges: traffic congestion, overtourism in south Bali, and pressures on natural and cultural resources. Yet, these issues tell only part of the story.
Travel analysts note that rankings like this often reflect perception, not potential. Bali’s decline may signal a moment of reflection, not a fall from grace.
Resilience Beyond Rankings
Bali has faced cycles of change before, from the global pandemic to shifts in visitor demographics. What keeps the island’s soul intact is not its position on a list, but its unbroken rhythm of culture. Temples still fill with incense and chants at dawn. Farmers still tend rice terraces by hand in Jatiluwih and Sidemen. In every courtyard, the daily ritual of canang sari offerings continues, honoring the divine balance known as Tri Hita Karana.
As tourism matures, Bali’s strength lies in rediscovering what travelers today value most: authentic connection, space to breathe, and experiences that restore rather than consume.
This is where the island must now turn its focus toward quality over quantity, heritage over hype.
What Travelers Are Saying
Interviews with readers and travel experts reveal that Bali’s enduring charm remains undeniable. While some now look to emerging islands like Phu Quoc or Langkawi for novelty, many still see Bali as the region’s cultural heart.
Visitors highlight Ubud’s spiritual atmosphere, the artistry of its people, and the emotional resonance of its landscapes, qualities that cannot be replicated by newer destinations.
Travel researcher Wahyu Adityo Prodjo, who analyzed the award results, noted that Bali’s drop in ranking does not erase its legacy:
“Bali continues to be a benchmark for how island destinations evolve. Its challenge now is not regaining a title, but redefining what excellence means in a changing world of travel.”
The Road Ahead: Regaining Balance and Grace
Local tourism leaders are now re-evaluating Bali’s direction for the next decade. Sustainability initiatives, heritage preservation programs, and traffic management strategies are being expanded, particularly in rural regencies like Bangli and Tabanan.
There’s also a shift toward slow travel, encouraging visitors to stay longer, explore deeper, and contribute meaningfully to local communities. This approach aligns with Bali’s own spiritual philosophy that life, like nature, moves in cycles of renewal.
From every change arises opportunity. The island that once defined Asian paradise can redefine it again through mindful tourism and respect for the land that sustains it.
This island remains a living, breathing story, written in ritual and resilience.
Traveler Insight: Where to Find Bali’s Enduring Beauty
Even as global rankings fluctuate, Bali’s most soulful corners remain untouched by the passing tide of trends.
Here are places where the island’s essence still feels pure:
- Sidemen Valley (Karangasem) – Emerald rice terraces, morning mist, and slow village rhythms.
- Munduk Highlands (Buleleng) – Waterfalls, coffee plantations, and cool mountain air.
- Tegalalang (Gianyar) – Iconic terraces and ancient water temples.
- Nusa Penida (Klungkung) – Rugged cliffs and coral sanctuaries for divers and dreamers.
- Pemuteran (Buleleng) – Home to coral restoration projects and quiet coastal life.
Each of these regions reminds travelers that beauty in Bali is not fading, it is simply waiting to be seen with renewed eyes.
Rankings may rise and fall, but the essence of Bali remains unchanged, its people, its ceremonies, its landscapes that hold memory like prayer. The island’s power has never been about perfection. It lies in its humanity, its ability to adapt, and its gift of stillness amid change.
As the world looks elsewhere for new icons of beauty, Bali continues to whisper what it always has: peace, balance, and belonging.
This forest holds a living, breathing ritual.
Curated by the editorial team at BaliExpertGuide.com, this article reflects our dedication to cultural preservation and authentic Bali travel.
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