Savvy Tourists Can Avoid Big Crowds At Bali Hotspots This Month

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Bali’s peak season for tourism is reaching its zenith, with tens of thousands of tourists arriving every week; from now until the end of September, holidaymakers must prepare for crowds.

However, there are a few ways in which savvy tourists can ensure their experience is as smooth and streamlined as possible. 

As the school holidays start to wrap up in Australia and New Zealand, and as the long summer holidays begin across Europe too, Bali will be busier with international tourists than domestic visitors for the next month and a half.

The impact of the European and North American summer holidays on the Bali tourism sector is not to be overlooked.

While Australians are the most frequent international arrivals in Bali, holidaymakers from the northern hemisphere will be keeping the tourism sector super busy for the next few weeks. 

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The Chairman of the Regional Leadership Council (DPD) of Asita Bali, I Putu Winastra, said to reporters, “The long domestic holidays have been completed, but the European holiday will only start this July” as he shared his hopes for the success of this peak flow of tourists to continue. 

He added, “Even though domestic tourist visits are likely to decrease, we are still optimistic that tourists to Bali will still be crowded. The goal is to facilitate the accessibility of tourists to the destination.” 

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Winastra called on the Bali authorities to make sure that they are working with tourism attractions to ensure that traffic congestion remains at a minimum.

He also hoped that tourists themselves would choose itineraries and destinations both on and off the beaten path to keep everything on the island moving.

He explained, “We hope that there will be a cross-distribution of tourists with good infrastructure. So with infrastructure problems, congestion remains a record [high].”

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How can tourists avoid the crowd this peak season? While it is almost impossible to guarantee no queues or wait times at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport upon arrival and departure, one of the easiest ways to cut time is to apply for the e-visa on arrival before landing.

Tourists can apply for the eVoA up to 48-hours before departure however, it is advisable to start the process around 2-weeks before traveling to Indonesia. 

Doing so enables tourists to make use of the newly installed autogates upon arrival and departure to speed up proceedings.

While some Bali lovers have cited issues with the website, if the page is slow, simply return at a later stage.

With heavy volumes of traffic to the site at this time of year, it is advisable to use the site at times of day when usership will be lower.

It’s also essential to turn off the VPN as this often prevents the site from loading properly, and any other ad or pop-up blockers too. 

Tourists can apply for up to five eVoA in one application, meaning those traveling as groups, families or as a couple can complete the application in one go. 

One of the best ways to avoid traffic congestion is to be super savvy with travel times. This may mean setting the alarm a little earlier than wished on vacation but getting up just an hour earlier in the morning means that tourists can avoid traffic jams and see Bali’s most iconic landmarks and attractions without crowds. 

Most day trip pick-up times for tours across Bali are between 8.30 am and 10.30 am – unless for popular trips like the sunrise hike on Mount Batur.

To arrange a pick-up around 7.30 am (or earlier!) and be on the road at this early hour makes for a much more enjoyable experience.

The same can be true for the return from day trips; either start the return around lunchtime or wait until after the 5 pm – 7 pm rush.

It is still advisable for tourists to try to make their Bali Tourism Tax Levy payment online prior to arrival.

Though there is a counter at Bali Airport in the arrival hall, stopping to make payment here means more time in the terminal building.

Tourists are advised that the Bali Tourism Task Force will continue to conduct spot checks on tourists visiting top attractions twice a month. Tourists should have a copy of their QR-code Boucher readily available to show to officers.