KARANGASEM, DEWATA.NEWS – Hotel occupancy in Karangasem Regency remains sluggish despite the approaching long holiday period for Nyepi and Eid al-Fitr 2026, with no significant increase in bookings reported so far.
Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Karangasem, I Wayan Kariasa, said that as of Tuesday (March 17), the local hospitality sector has yet to experience the usual seasonal boost.
According to him, two main factors are currently affecting hotel demand.
First, the close timing between Nyepi and Eid has led many domestic travelers to reconsider their holiday plans. Nyepi, known as Bali’s Day of Silence, imposes strict restrictions on movement and activities across the island.
Second, global conditions particularly geopolitical tensions and the ongoing conflict in Europe, have directly impacted international arrivals.
“Many European tourists have canceled their hotel bookings over the past few weeks,” Kariasa said.
Historically, the Eid holiday period has contributed to an increase in hotel occupancy of up to 20 percent, largely driven by domestic travelers who do not observe the holiday.
However, this year’s trend appears weaker than in previous years.
Despite the current slowdown, Kariasa remains cautiously optimistic that demand may recover after the Nyepi observance.
“We will see after Nyepi whether there will be an increase in bookings or not,” he added.
The situation highlights the sensitivity of Bali’s tourism sector to both domestic calendar dynamics and global travel conditions, particularly in regions like Karangasem that rely on consistent visitor flows.