Safety Is Top Priority As Bali Increases Security Patrols Implemented At Key Transit Points

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Bali has just celebrated Galungan Day.

With Thursday, April 24th, observed as Umanis Galungan, Balinese families are honoring one of the most holy times of the year on the island.

As the holy days are also a time of family gathering and community celebration, there is a lot more movement of people around the island right now. 

The Balinese Hindu festivals of Galungan and Kuningan happen every 210 days according to the Balinese Pawukon calendar.

Galungan Day marks the day the ancestors are believed to return to earth, and Kuningan Day, which always falls 10 days later, marks the moment the ancestors return to the cosmic realms.

It is a deeply spiritually significant time in Bali, and there is always a feeling of lightness in the air.

The streets are lined with towering bamboo poles adorned with intricate and colorful decorations, known as penjor. The day after Galungan Day, which this year falls on Thursday, 24th May, is known as Umanis Galungan, which means Sweet Galungan Day. 

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This Galungan and Kuningan season, anticipating a surge in domestic travel across the province, more security teams have been deployed across busy transit points.

From Thursday, April 24th, through Kuningan on 3rd May, tourists will see more police, local security teams, and traffic officers ready and available to help at ports, bus stations, and even at top cultural attractions and Bali’s most significant temples. 

Security teams in Nusa Penida have increased their efforts to help support domestic and international tourists who travel through the port area safely and easily.

The Head of Police Operations at Nusa Penida’s Sampalan Port, Kompol Ida Bagus Sumerta, told reporters, “Sweet Galungan Day is usually used by people to travel, so we maximize security at busy and vulnerable points.” 

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He confirmed that popular tourist attractions on Nusa Penida will also see extra security staff deployed over the holiday period, including this weekend, when many local families are expected to enjoy ‘staycations’ all across the province.

Kompol Sumerta explained, “We’ve sent personnel to tourist attractions to ensure security and order are maintained.”

The increased patrols and stationing of officers at strategic points across Nusa Penida are deemed as a preemptive and preventative measure, and officers will be on hand to help manage crowds, deal with any public disorder, and respond immediately to any criminal activity that comes to light. 

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He added “Diamond Beach is one of the tourist icons of Nusa Penida which is crowded with visitors, especially during the holidays. So we can provide a sense of security for tourists.”

Nusa Penida is one of the most popular destinations in Bali with local tourists, and domestic tourists from across Indonesia and is booming in popularity with international tourists.

Nusa Penida, as an outlying island from Bali, can be accessed by fast boat and there are dozens of crossings offered daily by providers like GoBoat.

Tourists can depart on fast boat services to Nusa Penida from Sanur, which is the most popular departure point, or Serangan, or for those in Central or East Bali, Padangbai is often the easiest departure point. 

Nusa Penida and its sister islands, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, can be visited as part of a whistlestop day trip from the main island of Bali, though if planning a day trip, it’s really best to visit just one of the three.

It is highly advisable to book an overnight stay in Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, or Nusa Ceningan to really take the time to explore all of what these magical islands have to offer.

Tourists often find themselves extending their stays on the islands night after night. If you want to get your itinerary right the first time, book three nights; it’s the perfect amount of time to soak it all in!