Denpasar, Bali, Dec. 24 -- Bali Governor Wayan Koster rejected claims that Bali is experiencing a downturn in its tourism sector during this year-end holiday period, calling such information a "hoax."

"We recorded an increase in tourism visits, which means that (tourism downturn claims) on social media is a hoax," Koster told ANTARA at the sidelines of his visit to the Port of Benoa here on Wednesday.

Describing social media posts claiming "lacklustre" tourism activities in Bali during the year-end holiday as "baseless", the governor said that the province has received 6.8 million foreign tourists on a year-to-date basis, surpassing the 6.3 million foreign tourists' visits recorded in 2024.

He said Bali also received an average of 20,0...