BALI – The threat of severe traffic congestion ahead of the 2027 Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holiday season has prompted the Indonesian Online Journalists Association (IWO) Bali to call for early action, particularly to improve road access to Gilimanuk Port, one of Bali’s main transportation gateways connecting the island with Java.
IWO Bali is urging Commission III of the Bali Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD Bali) to push the central government to pay serious attention to road conditions, transportation capacity, and traffic management along the Gilimanuk route.
The issue was raised during IWO Bali’s monthly discussion forum, #NgopiSantuy, featuring Nyoman Suyasa, ST, Chairman of Commission III of the Bali DPRD, as the keynote speaker. The discussion took place at Ar Kopi, Renon, Denpasar, on Friday (October 30, 2026), focusing on Bali’s tourism development and infrastructure challenges.
IWO Bali believes transportation infrastructure must be prepared well in advance, particularly as Bali anticipates increased vehicle movements and tourist arrivals during the year-end holiday period. Traffic entering and leaving the island through Gilimanuk Port is expected to require special attention.
Gilimanuk is a major land transportation gateway between Bali and Java. Without adequate road capacity and effective traffic management, increased vehicle movements could trigger lengthy queues, disrupting local communities, logistics distribution, and tourism activities.
Tourism Growth Must Be Matched by Infrastructure Readiness
During the discussion, Nyoman Suyasa acknowledged that Bali’s tourism growth must be supported by adequate infrastructure.
He noted that international tourist arrivals in Bali reached approximately 7.05 million in 2025. In 2026, the figure is projected to increase to between 7.1 million and 7.2 million visitors.
Including domestic tourists, Bali is estimated to receive approximately 16 million visitors annually.
However, Suyasa stressed that addressing transportation challenges requires more than simply building new roads or widening existing ones. Spatial planning, regional management, and the protection of water resources must also be incorporated into Bali’s long-term development strategy.
"When discussing Bali's tourism development in relation to infrastructure, we cannot focus solely on road construction or increasing road capacity. More importantly, we must address spatial planning, regional management, and the protection of water resources," Suyasa said.
Traffic Congestion in Southern Bali Also Requires Attention
Apart from the Gilimanuk route, traffic congestion in southern Bali was another major concern during the discussion.
The rapid growth of tourism and local economic activities has placed increasing pressure on existing road infrastructure, with vehicle movements continuing to challenge the capacity of major roads.
Several potential solutions were discussed, including the development of mass public transportation, a proposed tram system, road expansion, and adjustments to logistics transportation routes.
Ahead of the 2027 Christmas and New Year holidays, stronger coordination among government agencies, including the Bali Transportation Agency, was considered necessary.
Traffic management and the possible adjustment of logistics vehicle routes were also discussed as options to reduce congestion in heavily visited tourism areas.
IWO Bali Calls for Stronger Government Coordination
IWO Bali Chairperson Tri Widiyanti said the #NgopiSantuy programme is a monthly discussion platform designed to encourage open communication between journalists, government representatives, and relevant stakeholders.
Through the forum, IWO Bali seeks to create space for constructive and critical discussions on current issues, particularly public policies, infrastructure development, and matters directly affecting communities in Bali.
Through #NgopiSantuy, IWO Bali reaffirmed its commitment to positioning journalism as a channel for public aspirations and an independent voice in monitoring public policy, particularly in matters concerning infrastructure readiness and the interests of Bali's communities.
The discussion was also attended by the Chairman of the IWO Denpasar City Executive Board and members, the Chairman of the IWO Badung Regency Executive Board and members, as well as administrators and members of the IWO Bali Provincial Board.
