With Christmas Around The Corner Bali Travel Preparations Start Now

Share The Article

The countdown to Christmas is officially on, which also means that 2025 is nearly complete…how?!

Time flies when you’re having fun in Bali, and with the festive season just around the corner, security agencies on the island are preparing for the huge influx of tourists who will arrive at the end of December.

The Christmas and New Year holiday in Bali is one of the biggest and busiest times of year in the province. With over one million international and domestic tourists arriving on the island over a two-and-a-half-week period, leaders have to work around the clock to ensure that everyone keeps moving safely and that security is a top priority. 

In Indonesia, the Christmas and New Year holiday is known as Nataru, a blended word derived from ‘Natal’ and ‘Tahun Baru’ in Bahasa Indonesia. Bali, as the nation’s flagship tourism destination, welcomes a huge influx of holidaymakers who want to celebrate the festive season in the Balinese sun, and those who travel home to the island from other parts of the country during the national holiday period. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BALI INFO (@bali.info.official)

With six weeks to go, security agencies in Bali, including the police, army, and local village Pecalang, are already working together to manage logistics and implement heightened security protocols. 

Speaking to reporters as Christmas and New Year operational and organisational plans start to come into effect, the Police Chief of Kuta, Commissioner Agus Riwayanto Diputra, shared his hopes that everything will go according to plan. Police Chief Diputra told reporters, “We’ve strengthened patrols and added personnel to vulnerable locations, places of worship, busy centres and the main routes in the Kuta tourist area.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Four Points Bali Kuta (@fourpointsbalikuta)

He confirmed that the security operation for Christmas and New Year 2025 is a joint effort between the provincial government, regency government, pecalang, tourist destination management teams, and community groups. Private businesses such as hotels, resorts, entertainment venues, and private attractions will also be stepping into full Christmas and New Year mode in the coming days. 

Police Chief Diputra told reporters, “We are also on alert for potential natural disasters approaching the end of the year, such as extreme weather, flooding, and high waves. The Kuta Police, along with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and related agencies, have prepared anticipatory measures to ensure a swift and measured response in the event of an emergency.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Polsek Kuta Utara ( Canggu ) (@polsekkutautara)

Kuta, along with tourism resort areas like Seminyak, Canggu, Sanur, Nusa Dua, and Ubud, are all expected to be at peak occupancy during the Christmas and New Year holidays, as it is a religious festival. Police Chief Diputra confirmed that increased security efforts will be focused on churches during the festive season.

While Indonesia is a majority Muslim nation, and Bali is a majority Balinese Hindu province, the number of Christians and Catholics in Indonesia is growing, and leaders are clear that religious respect must be protected in a thriving society. 

Police Chief Dipitra concluded, “The Kuta Police continue to take preventive and repressive measures to suppress potential disturbances to public order and security, especially those originating from criminals outside of Bali.”

“However, maintaining a safe and secure Kuta is not solely the responsibility of the police, but a shared responsibility of all stakeholders within their respective jurisdictions.”

While the countdown for Christmas is officially on, there is a reason to celebrate and honor festivities in Bali this month. For local communities in Bali, Christmas and New Year celebrations are far off yet. The first priority is the upcoming Galungan and Kuningan festival.

On 19th November, Bali will observe Galungan Day, a day of deep spiritual significance to mark the triumph of good over evil, or dharma over adharma, and the return of the ancestors to the earthly realm.

On the 29th of November, Bali will observe Kuningan Day, the moment when the ancestors return to the spirit realm, and families and communities come together to feast and enjoy each other’s company.