With a wave of flight cancellations and travel disruptions impacting Bali travel, tourism leaders around the island are starting to report on the knock-on impact to their businesses.
As flight cancellations are starting to trigger hotel cancellations, certain parts of Bali are already starting to feel less crowded.
North Bali is a region of the island that is typically less crowded than areas of the central south; however, in light of the flight cancellations due to the conflict between the US-Israel and Iran, the area is feeling even quieter.
The Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association for Buleleng Regency, Dewa Ketut Suardipa, told reporters on Thursday, 5th March, that typically the most frequent international arrivals in North Bali come from Europe, mostly Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
He told reporters, “Bali-Europe flights usually have a transit in Doha or Singapore. That’s the problem. European guests who had previously booked hotels in Buleleng were forced to cancel. Some guests were also unable to return home due to other flight delays.”
He notes that hotel occupancy rates in Buleleng Regency have already been lower than usual as the low season is underway.
There will be an increase in bookings around Eid al-Fitr, when millions of domestic tourists will travel all around the country. The next big surge in visitors is around the long school holidays, starting in June and July.
Suardipa told reporters that he is already concerned that current geopolitical tensions will impact both international tourism and domestic travel in the coming weeks and months.
He shared, “We hope that there will be a ticket discount policy so that domestic tourists can still travel during the Eid al-Fitr holiday and the tourism sector can continue to thrive.”
Tourists who are in Bali and seeking to explore an area that feels quieter than the ever-busy central south would be wise to plan a last-minute visit to the north of Bali.
The most established and popular destinations in North Bali include Lovina, Munduk, and Singaraja.
For destinations that are a little off the beaten path, here at The Bali Sun, we highly recommend a stay in Pemuteran or Sumberkima.
The North Bali Advantage
Flight disruptions have made the island’s peaceful northern coast quieter than ever. Tap a card to discover why you should reroute your trip to this award-winning region.
PEACE & QUIET
Zero Overcrowding
TAP TO REVEALPEMUTERAN
World’s Best 2026
TAP TO REVEALUNDERWATER MAGIC
Thriving Coral Reefs
TAP TO REVEALWHERE TO STAY
Boutique & Luxury
TAP TO REVEALIt is little known to many tourists that Pemuteran has been named as one of the best tourism villages in the world in 2026 by the UN World Tourism Organisation.
This award was previously won by Penglipuran Village in Bangli Regency.
The win catapulted the village onto the world stage, and the community has become one of the most famous attractions in all of Bali. As tourists are only just starting to learn about Pemuteran, 2026 is the moment to visit before everyone else arrives!
Pemuteran is home to a number of wonderful local homestays and guesthouses. As a traditional fishing village, Pemuteran is both culturally rich and filled with natural wonders.
Pemuteran is actually home to one of Bali’s most abundant coral reefs and has become a popular spot with divers and snorkelers who are seeking an off-path spot to explore the underwater world.
Pemuteran as a community has been working for years with the NGO BioRock Indonesia to repopulate and conserve the coral reef ecosystem, and the results speak for themselves.
Top picks for hotels and resorts in the North Bali area include, in the Lovina area, Lovina Beach Hotel, and the Padmasari Resort Hotel.
In Pemuteran, the Adi Assri Beach Resort & Spa is a great option, or the Sun Suko Boutique Resort. In Sumberkima, the Sumberkima Hill Retreat is the best of the best. For a budget but bougie stay, book the Mangroove Bay Boutique Hostel.
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