DENPASAR, lintasbali.com – Under the leadership of the organizing committee chair, I Made Dwijantara, S.E., M.M., the Indonesian Hotel General Managers Association (IHGMA) Bali successfully hosted The International Tourism Leaders Summit (ITLS) 2026 on September 25–26 at the Bali Sunset Road Convention Center in Kuta, Bali.
Centered on the theme “Cross-Border Perspectives from Tourism Leaders: Balancing Sustainability, Technology, and the Human Experience,” ITLS 2026 featured 22 keynote speakers from various countries, academic disciplines, and professional backgrounds.
The event was attended by hotel general managers all members of IHGMA Bali as well as key stakeholders from the hospitality and tourism sectors.
The conference underscored the importance of integrating diverse perspectives.encompassing epistemologies, experiences, and leadership practices from global experts within the hospitality and tourism industry.
This is particularly relevant today, as the global tourism sector increasingly confronts the realities of globalization, openness, and a growing demand for sustainability and even regenerative practices amidst uncertainty, disruption, intense competition, and various other significant challenges.
Furthermore, following the ITLS 2026 event, IHGMA Bali took a significant step forward by publishing ITLS 2026 The Summit Report a comprehensive compilation of activities that serves as an essential record of this fifth high-level conference.
This 174-page, hardbound, full-color volume was produced by Pustaka Larasan using premium-quality paper.
According to its compiler, Ratu Agung Bagus Ngurah Putra, M.Tr.Par, CHE, CHA who also serves as the General Chairman of IHGMA Bali for the 2026–2030 term the book functions as a substantive and authoritative academic document.
It is designed to serve as an inspiring starting point for fostering successful, long-term leadership within the hospitality and tourism sector.
The hope is that industry leaders will be able to act with flexibility and dynamism within the global tourism business ecosystem, directing their efforts toward outcomes that not only benefit companies and owners but also ensure customer satisfaction and personal professional fulfillment.
In this context, a harmonious balance between sustainability and the implementation of eco-friendly technology is of critical importance.
Reflecting the seriousness of this endeavor, the Englishlanguage publication was developed with the editorial support of Prof. Dr. I Gede Mudana, M.Si., a lecturer in the Doctoral Program in Tourism Business at Politeknik Negeri Bali.
In alignment with the themes of the summit, the contributors to this book are organized into five panels: the human experience, technological support, responsible investment, medical and wellness tourism, and sustainability practices.
Each panel features world-class experts who offer their own unique perspectives. ITLS 2026 yielded 20 recommendations, which can be substantially summarized into four key points:
(1) Prioritizing the human experience, cultural authenticity, meaning, employee well-being, and the active participation of local communities.
(2) Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and technology to enhance human capabilities, destination intelligence, and operational efficiency, while ensuring data privacy and reliability.
(3) Shifting toward ecosystem restoration, integrating local supply chains (such as the agricultural sector), and measuring success based on the well-being of both the environment and society.
(4) Building trust, fostering adaptive leadership, ensuring crisis preparedness, and developing crossborder partnerships to create a future-ready tourism ecosystem.
Reflecting the summit’s emphasis on an interdisciplinary perspective, a profound message appears on the back cover of this book: “The future of tourism is not defined by its status as a leading sector, but rather by its capacity to function as a cross-sectoral field uniting various other sectors to generate shared prosperity and sustainable impact.”
This underscores why, in the tourism business, there is no longer any room for a siloed, sector-centric mindset let alone the arrogant assumption that one party’s approach represents the sole truth to be followed by all other entities. (Rls)
