Bali Airport Prepares For Huge Influx Of Tourists This Christmas Holidays

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The Christmas and New Year holidays are just around the corner. As one of the busiest times of year for travel in Bali, all major tourism service providers are preparing for a huge influx of visitors.

Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, now back fully operational after last week’s volcano-triggered travel chaos, is ready for the next high season surge. 

The General Manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, spoke to reporters about the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, which are referred to locally as Nataru.

He explained, “Our Nataru preparation has eight main programs. The first is coordination with related agencies. We have held meetings with various stakeholders almost 3 to 4 times, including the Kapolres, Danlanud, and Kapolda [police forces] and other agencies.”

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“The main purpose of this meeting was to discuss the challenges we face, especially related to the major traffic jam that occurred in 2023 on the toll road, which has had an impact on the situation at the airport.”

Traffic management systems will be put into effect to help ensure that vehicles can travel easily on the roads leading to and from Bali Airport.

The traffic flow leading to Bali Airport has already been upgraded this year, and the impact can be felt; there are now eight lanes for vehicles to enter the airport, rather than the previous four. 

@faizalmaulana_22 Salah satu tempat terindah saat landing 😍🛬 #Bali ♬ Landing di Bali – Faizal Maulana

There is a new system in place for airport pick-up and taxi services. Following an altercation between security teams and taxi drivers a few weeks ago, Bali Airport has changed the way in which international arrival passengers can source a taxi ride by creating a dedicated counter for hailing a ride.

This new system helps keep passengers who have already confirmed their pick-up arrangements and those looking for a ride separate, reducing confusion and queues.

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Shahab also confirmed that Ngurah Rai Airport is working with Satpol PP BKO Kuta, TNI AU [army], and the police to take firm action on this problem.

As part of security efforts, the airport will also set up police posts at several strategic points. He noted, “We will place posts in front of the domestic and international areas to monitor the security situation and provide a place for officers to rest.” 

Shabab concluded, “We want to ensure that the homecoming and return flows can run smoothly so that tourists and residents who travel can enjoy the holiday calmly and safely.”

Typically, over the Christmas and New Year period, Bali sees over one million international arrivals and hundreds of thousands of domestic tourists traveling both overland and by air to celebrate the festival season on the Island of the Gods. 

Tourists planning on traveling to Bali for the festive season should be traveling with fully comprehensive health and travel insurance.

In light of last week’s travel chaos, triggered by the volcanic ash cloud over Bali airspace from the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in the Flores Islands, travelers are reminded to prepare for every eventuality.

Travel disruptions saw over 20% of all I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport’s domestic and international flights canceled, with hundreds of tourists stranded without alternative travel options, unlike flights that could be resumed. 

As Bali sites are within the Pacific Ring of Fire, the risk of volcanic eruption, earthquakes, and tsunamis is constant. Travelers should ensure that their travel insurance policies include coverage in the instance of natural disasters as well as all medical emergency situations. 

Travelers passing through Bali Airport during the high season are reminded to leave plenty of time to travel to the airport, longer than you may think necessary, even when planning on using the airport toll road.

Traffic congestion around Bali Airport, even with the mitigations in place, is always heightened around the festive season.

In 2023 tourists could be seen abandoning their taxi rides and running the final stretch of the journey to the airport terminal building in order to catch their flights in time when traffic congestion was at its peak.