DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – Bali’s heavy reliance on international flight routes crossing the Middle East could pose a serious risk to the island’s tourism sector if regional conflicts continue, industry representatives have warned.
Disruptions to airspace in parts of the Middle East are expected to affect international mobility, particularly for travelers from Europe who typically transit through major hubs in the region.
Chairman of the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) Bali, Putu Winastra, said on Sunday (March 1, 2026) that most European-bound flights to Bali either pass through Middle Eastern airspace or are operated by airlines based in the region.
“If this conflict continues, the impact on Bali tourism could be very significant, especially since most flights from Europe have to pass through the Middle East,” Winastra said.
He noted that several key carriers connecting European travelers to Bali are based in the Middle East, including Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Saudia. Turkish Airlines also frequently operates routes linking Europe and Asia that cross parts of the region.
If the conflict leads to airspace restrictions or rerouting, airlines may be required to take longer flight paths. This could increase operational costs, extend travel times, and potentially influence travelers’ decisions to visit Bali.
Winastra added that the situation warrants close attention as Bali is approaching a period of rising European arrivals.
“In April, we usually start to see an increase in European tourist arrivals. This situation must be carefully anticipated,” he said.
Beyond tourism, prolonged tensions in the Middle East could also affect broader global economic activities, including international trade that relies on both air and sea routes.
Tourism stakeholders in Bali expressed hope that the situation can be resolved through diplomatic negotiations to avoid long-term disruption to global connectivity.
“We hope there will be no war and that everything can be resolved through peaceful negotiations,” Winastra added.
Meanwhile, tourism industry player Asekan Djoyodono, who also handles the Middle East market, said flight cancellations have occurred but the direct impact on tourist arrivals has not yet been clearly observed.
According to him, operators are still awaiting confirmation from guests scheduled to arrive in the coming days.
“Usually we only know on the arrival day whether guests cancel or become no-shows due to flight disruptions,” he explained.
He noted that the Middle East market is currently not in its peak travel season, as many countries in the region are observing Ramadan. As a result, cancellations from that segment are expected to have limited impact on Bali’s overall visitor numbers.
“The Middle East market is currently observing Ramadan, so it is not a holiday season. Therefore, cancellations from that market are not significantly affecting arrivals to Bali,” he said.
However, tourism operators remain cautious about potential impacts on European travelers, many of whom rely on Middle Eastern transit hubs such as Doha and Dubai to reach Bali. Qatar Airways operates through Doha, while Emirates connects via Dubai.
Alternative routes remain available. Turkish Airlines is reported to continue operating normally, offering a transit option via Istanbul. Travelers may also use Southeast Asian hubs, including flights operated by Singapore Airlines, which are currently running as scheduled.
Asekan added that Emirates and Qatar Airways flights to Bali typically operate with high passenger loads. Industry players are closely monitoring developments to assess whether operational disruptions could affect international visitor flows.
With several alternative routes still available, tourism stakeholders remain hopeful that travel to Bali will continue with minimal disruption in the near term.