The Christmas spirit is alive and thriving in Bali, as the island experiences an unprecedented surge in holiday travel. Officials have confirmed that the number of arrivals has far exceeded predictions, creating an atmosphere of both excitement and bustling activity across the island.

On Friday, December 22nd, a staggering 73,377 passengers traversed through Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, spanning both international and domestic terminals. This figure is more than double the airport's typical daily traffic of around 30,000 passengers.

Handy Heryudhitiawan, the General Manager of Ngurah Rai Airport, unveiled the details of this remarkable surge. The holiday festivities officially kicked off on December 19th with 60,001 passengers, followed by 62,610 on December 20th and 65,941 on December 21st. The peak day for arrivals was the 22nd, with just as many visitors landing over the Christmas Eve weekend.

Of the total passengers, 37,350 were domestic, and 36,027 were international. Arriving passengers dominated with 39,931 individuals, while departing passengers totaled 32,996.

In response to the influx, Bali Immigration and security forces established a temporary station at the airport named Nataru Post, after the Indonesian word for the Christmas holidays. This station is closely monitoring traveler movements to ensure a smooth experience for all.

"As of the fourth day of the Nataru Post, there were 261,929 passengers traveling through Ngurah Rai Airport, marking an 18% increase compared to last year," Heryudhitiawan stated. "The number of aircraft movements also saw a 12% growth."

The busiest flight route remains the domestic connection between Jakarta and Bali, closely followed by Surabaya to Denpasar. For international routes, the busiest ones have been from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Melbourne. Bali Airport is facilitating over 425 plane movements daily during the festive season.

While Bali Airport is the primary hub for arrivals, Gilimanuk Harbour is also experiencing a significant surge in activity. Acting Governor of Bali Sang Made Mahendra Jaya personally inspected the situation at Gilimanuk Port on December 22nd, ensuring readiness for the Christmas and New Year periods.

The Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya, highlighted improvements at Ketapang and Gilimanuk Ports to accommodate increased passenger activity. Notably, the ferry port at Ketapang increased its ship capacity from 10,685 small vehicles in 2022 to 12,885 in 2023, anticipating a notable rise in the number of vehicles on Bali's roads.

Authorities are urging tourists to plan their road travel carefully, leaving ample time between attractions and destinations. To manage the increased traffic, additional traffic officers have been deployed across the island, working around the clock to control flow and prevent bottlenecks.

For those with time-sensitive journeys, such as returning to the airport or making crossings to the Nusa or Gili Islands, officials advise leaving extra time to accommodate potential delays on the roads. The collaborative efforts of authorities aim to ensure a safe and joyous holiday season for all travelers in Bali.