Bali. Bali is seeing a sharp rise in tourist arrivals during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, signaling a revival in visitor flows after weeks of slower activity linked to bad weather and travel concerns elsewhere in Indonesia.
The increase was evident on Friday at the domestic arrivals terminal of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, where crowds of travelers from across the country arrived to spend their year-end holidays on the resort island. Many domestic tourists chose to travel after Christmas, taking advantage of extended time off before the New Year.
Wayan Pasek, a tourism industry worker in Bali, said visitor numbers had dipped earlier in the month but began picking up around Christmas. While arrivals remain below last year’s levels, he noted a clear upward trend.
“Compared with last year, the numbers are lower, but the curve is rising again. Since Christmas, it’s been getting busy,” Wayan said. “Traffic is starting to build up, roads are crowded, and the airport is clearly busy again.”
He added that most of his clients are domestic tourists, though foreign visitors are also becoming more visible. Peak arrivals are expected on Dec. 31, ahead of New Year celebrations.
Airport operator Angkasa Pura reported daily domestic passenger traffic of 30,543 people, including 16,779 arrivals and 13,764 departures. International passenger movements were even higher, totaling 40,203 per day, with 23,808 arrivals and 16,395 departures.
The surge in visitors is also being felt on the ground, particularly in Kuta, Bali’s most iconic tourist district. Traffic congestion has returned along key arteries such as Jalan Patih Jelantik and Jalan Raya Legian, with private vehicles bearing out-of-province license plates dominating the roads. Foreign tourists on rented motorbikes were also seen weaving through slow-moving traffic.
Congestion peaked in the late afternoon as tourists converged on Kuta Beach to catch the sunset, one of Bali’s enduring attractions. At the same time, nightlife venues along Legian began filling up earlier than usual, with queues forming at club entrances even before nightfall.
Handoko, a tourist from Jakarta, said he and his family chose to travel after Christmas due to work schedules. “We could only come now because the children just started their holidays,” he said, adding that the family plans to stay for six days before returning to Jakarta ahead of New Year’s Eve.
Tour guide Erna said the recent uptick in visitors has helped dispel concerns about a prolonged slump in Bali tourism. She attributed the earlier slowdown to poor weather and public anxiety over flooding in other regions.
“Now that the weather has improved and Christmas is here, tourists are coming back,” she said. “I hope this positive trend continues into the New Year.”
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