Traffic Police in Bali’s oldest tourism resort of Sanur have stepped in to help tackle major congestion issues hitting the vacation hotspots.
Sanur is best known for its quiet coastal charms, but as the national public holidays roll on, more tourists are traveling to the coast and to Sanur Harbour to connect with the islands of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan.
Sanur has been facing traffic management issues for some time. As a popular vacation destination for both international and domestic tourists, as well as being a much-loved coastal retreat for local families and serving as the biggest gateway to Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan, the Gili Islands and Lombok on Bali, Sanur is an increasingly busy place.
As Indonesia is observing the Lebaran Eid al-Fitr national holidays until 6th April 2025, more tourists are visiting Bali’s stop vacation resorts, and Sanur has been seeing the strain. Nationwide Operation Ketupat Agung 2025 will be in effect until 8th April.
The security mission is a coordinated effort by Indonesian police, the army, security agencies, local governments, and community leaders to ensure public safety and peace throughout the holiday period.
As part of Operation Ketupat Agung 2025, even more, traffic officers have been deployed around Sanur’s most heavily congested points. Speaking to reporters the South Denpasar Police Chief, AKP Agus Adi Apriyoga, confirmed where and why the traffic congestion has become so concentred in Sanur in the last few days.
He shared “At Icon Mall Sanur, vehicles experienced obstacles due to limited parking areas, while at Pantai Bali Beach Sanur, the surge of tourists caused vehicle flow to be blocked.”
On Wednesday afternoon the worst of the traffic congestion was concentrated around Jalan Danau Toba, Jalan Danau Tamblingan, to the entrance of Pantai Sanur. The queue of vehicles was then affected the timing of the traffic lights at the intersections causing a further slowdown in traffic flow.
To overcome congestion from Thursday 3rd April, the South Denpasar Police have placed personnel at vulnerable points, including all major traffic light intersections including Taman Sari, Simpang Pantai Segara, and in front of Icon Mall Sanur.
At the entrance to Pantai Sanur, the police are working together with the Sanur Traditional Village security team and parking attendants to best organize vehicles to keep traffic flowing smoothly.
AKP Apriyoga told reporters “We have placed personnel at strategic points to regulate traffic flow and optimize traffic engineering.”
“We are also coordinating with various parties, including the customary village teams and parking officers so that the situation remains under control and the community can carry out activities comfortably.”
It is not only on Bali’s busiest roads where more support staff have been deployed but at the island’s top attractions too.
Tourists visiting Bali’s most famous cultural and natural landmarks can expect to see more security officers who are on standby to help manage crowds, control any unwanted behaviour and support tourists in need.
Speaking earlier this week the Bali Police Public Relations Chief, Senior Commissioner Pol. Ariasany annoyed “Regarding the long holiday, there are a number of tourist attractions that are the focus of security because they are expected to be crowded with tourists.”
“Some of them are Bedugul Botanical Gardens, Kuta, Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK), Sanur, Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, Kintamani, Canggu, and other destinations.”
From Thursday 3rd April through to Monday 6th April, tourists in Bali are urged to leave extra travel time while exploring the island.
Tourists are advised to especially leave more time than usual to travel to transportation hubs such as Bali Airport, Sanur Port, and Padangbai Port, all the way through to 8th April as Lebaran holiday crowds begin their homebound journeys as the public holidays come to a close.
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