BADUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – The Badung chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (Perhimpunan Hotel dan Restoran Indonesia / PHRI) has rejected claims circulating online that Bali is experiencing a downturn in visitor numbers during the Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 holiday period.
PHRI Badung stated that on-the-ground conditions indicate strong travel demand, particularly in Badung Regency, Bali’s main tourism hub. Vice Chairman of PHRI Badung, Komang Alit Ardana, said hotel bookings are already full from December 24 through the first week of 2026.
“Current occupancy is around 70 percent, but after December 24, room bookings are fully reserved,” Alit said.
He explained that hotel occupancy during this period is largely driven by domestic tourists, which aligns with the annual travel pattern in which many international visitors return to their home countries to celebrate Christmas. Despite this seasonal shift, overall tourist flows remain stable.
“Extreme weather has had some impact, but it has not discouraged people from traveling to Bali,” Alit added.
Field observations on Tuesday (December 23) showed popular tourism areas such as Kuta already crowded with visitors, including private vehicles and tour buses bearing non-Bali license plates. According to Alit, domestic travel demand has been particularly strong, as reflected by congestion at the Ketapang–Gilimanuk ferry crossing.
State ferry operator ASDP Ketapang also reported an increase in passenger and vehicle traffic bound for Bali. Between 10 days and four days before Christmas, a total of 40,987 vehicles and 143,533 passengers crossed to Bali, marking a year-on-year increase of 0.4 percent.
Ngurah Rai Airport Sees 463,000 Passengers in One Week
Meanwhile, provisional data from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport recorded approximately 463,000 passengers between December 15 and 21, 2025. The busiest domestic routes to Bali originated from Jakarta and Surabaya, while international arrivals were dominated by flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Perth.
PHRI Badung said these figures underscore Bali’s continued appeal as a leading tourism destination and counter negative narratives on social media suggesting Bali is losing competitiveness to other Southeast Asian countries.
“It is not fair to directly compare Bali with destinations like Malaysia, Singapore, or Thailand. We need to respond to these claims by showing that Bali remains worth visiting and continues to be a top destination,” Alit emphasized.
As the region with the largest concentration of accommodation facilities in Bali, Badung remains a central indicator of tourism performance on the island, with industry stakeholders expressing confidence heading into the peak holiday period.