Does anyone remember the New Year travel chaos in Bali in 2023/4 and 2024/5? Here at The Bali Sun, we remember it like it was yesterday.
With congestion so bad that tourists were forced to abandon their taxis and run to the airport just to catch their flight on time, it was the stuff of travel nightmares.
As the festive season is in full swing in Bali, local police have vowed to keep everyone moving safely and comfortably this year.
Bali’s Christmas and New Year Command Posts are in full operation right now. Across Bali, Operation Lilin Agung 2025 is also in full flow, and security teams from across government agencies are working together to reduce traffic congestion across the province so that tourists can enjoy every moment of their vacation and minimise time on the roads.
Speaking to reporters about the work that is happening behind the scenes to keep Bali moving, Head of the Badung Police Traffic Unit, AKP Ni Luh Tiviasih, shared, “The presence of personnel in the field is a form of police service to the public. We want to ensure security, safety, order, and smooth traffic flow, especially ahead of religious holidays and the end-of-year holidays.”
Badung Regency is home to many of Bali’s busiest tourism resorts, including Canggu, Seminyak, Legian, Kuta, and Uluwatu, all of which will see the majority of the Christmas season arrivals.
She called for the public to work cooperatively with officers stationed around the province to ensure that everything remains safe and smooth. Tiviasih concluded, “Obey traffic regulations and prioritize your safety while driving. We ask for your cooperation to ensure traffic remains orderly, safe, and smooth.”
Police teams over at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport are also working around the clock to ensure public safety, keep everyone moving, and help mitigate the increased risks posed by the extreme weather Bali is experiencing this rainy season.
Speaking to the media, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Police Public Relations Chief, First Inspector I Gede Suka Artana, confirmed that the Ngurah Rai Airport Police are routinely monitoring weather updates from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). He shared, “We have put all personnel on standby by checking the readiness of personnel on duty throughout the airport area.”
He added that teams have been tasked with reducing flood risks and the risk of falling trees. First Inspector Artana explained, “We are implementing this security measure to ensure that the tree felling and pruning process runs safely and does not disrupt the smooth flow of traffic.”
Artana also called on local residents and tourists to take personal responsibility for their movements around the island, as well as working cooperatively with the officers deployed to keep them safe.
He concluded, “We urge the public to remain cautious, safeguard themselves and their belongings, and comply with the directions of officers in the field to ensure a safe and conducive public order situation in the Ngurah Rai Airport area.”
Over the next two weeks, Bali will welcome more than 1.5 million tourists. The team at Bali Airport has confirmed that the Command Post will be in operation 24 hours a day over the festive season to help ensure that all agencies work together seamlessly to provide an enjoyable travel experience for all passengers, especially with the potential for extreme weather thrown into the mix.
The Head of Communications at Bali Airport, Eka Sandi, told reporters, “There are several challenges, particularly related to weather factors, during the seven days of this integrated command post service. We ensure that all airport services remain optimal, prioritising the safety, security, and comfort of all service users.”
He concluded, “This collaboration is key to maintaining smooth service during the Christmas and New Year period. We hope that I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport can continue to provide optimal service to all airport users.”
Tourists traveling to Bali Airport over the Christmas and New Year period are urged to leave above and beyond enough time to arrive at the airport. With heavy rains causing localised flooding, in addition to the increased volume of vehicles on the road, congestion is still likely despite all the best efforts of the authorities, and it always takes longer to travel from A to B than expected.
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