Swiss-Belhotel chief says Indonesia remains attractive for hotel investment amid global crises

Indonesia remains an attractive place to invest in hotels despite a series of global crises, according to Gavin M. Faull, chairman and president of Swiss-Belhotel International.

Faull pointed to Indonesia’s strong tourism ecosystem and cultural appeal. Speaking in Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, he said the country’s natural beauty and welcoming people continued to bring visitors, with Bali remaining a particularly powerful draw.

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Indonesia is such a beautiful country, its people are friendly, and everyone always wants to go to Bali.

“Indonesia is such a beautiful country, its people are friendly, and everyone always wants to go to Bali,” Faull said. He acknowledged that tourism had faced severe tests, including economic crises, bird flu, the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. He said the company viewed those challenges as opportunities to expand its market by working with new hotel-management partners.

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People visit many places around the world, but they always return to Bali because they love its nature, its people and its food.

The company’s latest expansion includes the newly operating Ashva Swiss-Belresort in Ubud. Faull said Bali attracts both domestic and international visitors because it offers a broad package for different types of travelers.

“People visit many places around the world, but they always return to Bali because they love its nature, its people and its food,” he said. Ilkin Ilyaszade, Swiss-Belhotel’s senior vice president for operations and development in Indonesia, described the country as the company’s most important growth driver. Swiss-Belhotel currently manages about 90 hotels or accommodations across Indonesia, out of more than 165 starred hotels in 20 countries worldwide.

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So we see Indonesia as the most important growth driver.