The first working week of 2026 is in full swing, but the festive season is lingering on just a moment longer in Bali.
The homeward-bound flow of tourists is still on the move, and that is making both the roads and transport hubs, such as I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, feel pretty busy.
It’s official, Bali welcomed over 7.05 million international arrivals in 2025, with over one million tourists arriving on the island specifically for the Christmas and New Year holidays. The festive season was a busy one in Bali.
Here at The Bali Sun, we thought it all flowed better than it has in the past, though, of course, the traffic jams were unavoidable.
As both international holidaymakers and domestic tourists head home after the holiday season, the roads and major transport hubs will still feel busy. Technically, the low season in Bali will resume in the coming days, and the island is already starting to feel quieter.
This is because the tipping point has been crossed and the number of people leaving the island is surpassing the number arriving, as confirmed by the Head of Communication and Legal Division of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Gede Eka Sandi Asmadi.
He told reporters, “The number of departing passengers at the airport is now higher than the number of arriving passengers, namely 16,124, or 56% of domestic passenger departures and 21,707, or 52% of international departures.”
He confirmed just how busy Bali Airport was over the festive season. Between 24th and 31st December, Bali Airport served 581,709 passengers, of which 320,246 were arrivals. There were markedly more international arrivals, with 185,478 people, compared to 134,768 domestic tourists arriving by air.
Over the coming days, tourists set to depart from Bali Airport should continue to arrive extra early for their flight, to allow more time than usual to both travel to the airport and pass through the terminal buildings.
The Christmas and New Year Command Posts are still open and operational across Bali’s transportation sector.
Operation Lilin Agung 2025 has seen thousands of police, traffic officers, security teams, and civil servants from across government agencies work together to ensure the smooth flow of movement across Bali since December 16th.
New traffic flows have been put in place across the island to help keep tourists moving as efficiently as possible. Speaking at the beginning of the festive season, the Head of the Badung Police Traffic Unit, AKP Ni Luh Tiviasih, called on all road users to cooperate with traffic officers while on the roads.
She 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.”
Adding “Obey traffic regulations and prioritize your safety while driving. We ask for your cooperation to ensure traffic remains orderly, safe, and smooth.”
One of the areas typically worst affected by traffic congestion during the peak vacation period is Sanur. Since Sanur is one of the most popular beach resorts in Bali and is the gateway to the Nusa Islands, Gili Islands, and Lombok, the area can feel pretty hectic during peak travel hours.
Thankfully, while the roads still feel busy in the early hours and late afternoon, overall, the number of tourists traveling through Sanur both as resort guests and as boat passengers is starting to reduce.
As the low season starts flowing again, this is a wonderful time of year to visit many of the island’s most popular cultural attractions. Without the hustle of the peak season crowds, tourists have the chance to really take their time exploring Bali’s heritage sites and take those all-important vacation photos without anyone in the background!
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