On the evening of September 26, 2026, hundreds of truck drivers staged a protest that completely halted operations at Ketapang Port in East Java. The disruption spread to Bali's Gilimanuk Port, causing traffic queues exceeding 7 kilometers that had not fully cleared by the afternoon of September 27.
Things to Consider: If you are planning to cross from Bali to Java via the Gilimanuk-Ketapang ferry, expect significant delays and consider departing much earlier than usual or postponing your trip until conditions stabilize. Impact on Denpasar airport flights is limited, but if you're traveling overland by bus or rental car toward Java, check local traffic updates from Polres Jembrana or ASDP beforehand, follow officers' instructions, and avoid attempting to cut into queues. Given that similar disruptions have recurred multiple times in 2026, consider alternative options such as flying instead of the ferry if your schedule is time-sensitive.
On the morning of September 27, 2026, a protest by thousands of truck drivers at Ketapang Port in East Java restricted port access, causing a 3.5km vehicle queue toward Gilimanuk Port on the Bali side. Police have deployed additional personnel to manage traffic and report the situation remains under control.
Things to Consider: If you plan to travel from Bali to Java via Gilimanuk Port, consider departing several hours earlier than planned or postponing your trip until the protest situation calms down. Check local news and social media for real-time traffic updates, strictly follow police officers' instructions at checkpoints, and avoid cutting into other lanes. If you have a ferry booking, contact the ferry operator in advance to inquire about possible delays.
Indonesia's Ngurah Rai Immigration Office detained four foreigners—an Egyptian man, two Russian men, and a Nigerian woman—during a joint operation in Canggu, Bali. Three were suspected of misusing their stay permits to work as DJs at a nightclub, while the woman had overstayed her visa by 402 days.
Things to Consider: Foreigners staying in Bali should verify the type of visa or stay permit they hold and confirm that their activities fall within its permitted scope. Working in any capacity—including as a DJ—on a tourist visa or Visa on Arrival is illegal; those earning income should switch to a proper work visa or KITAS. Regularly check your visa expiration date via your passport or apps like M-Paspor to avoid overstaying. Since joint immigration operations occur without advance notice, it is advisable to always carry your passport and relevant stay permit documents.
The 48th Pesta Kesenian Bali (Bali Arts Festival) drew only 5,743 foreign visitors, about 0.8% of all foreign tourists who visited Bali during the same period. Tourism industry figures point to insufficient promotion and say hotels and restaurants could be enlisted to help attract more international visitors.
A new shopping mall, Sira Village Grand Outlet Bali, opened on July 31 inside the Kura Kura Bali Special Economic Zone (KEK) in Denpasar, with an investment of around Rp1.5 trillion. The development aims to strengthen Bali's appeal as a world-class tourism and lifestyle destination while supporting the sustainable, culturally-rooted growth of the Kura Kura Bali zone.
KYND Community, a fully plant-based café in Seminyak, Bali, is popular among tourists for its photogenic acai bowls and vegan tan tan ramen. Open daily from 7:30am to 9:00pm, with reservations available only for dinner.
A new shopping mall, Sira Village Grand Outlet Bali, has opened within the Kura Kura Bali Special Economic Zone on Serangan Island, Denpasar. Indonesia's National Special Economic Zone Council has called on developers to maintain sustainability principles, including preserving Balinese culture and supporting the local economy.
On July 31, 2026, the Democrat Party's Bali and Tabanan branches held a 'Blue Sky Movement' cleanup and fish-fry release at Lake Beratan near Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, aiming to preserve the tourist site's environment and support local tourism-driven economy.
A video showing a foreign man promoting the sale of approximately 5,000 square meters of land in Kintamani, Bangli Regency, Bali, has gone viral on social media, raising questions about the legality of foreigners marketing land with freehold (hak milik) status in Indonesia. The Bangli Regency government has launched an investigation but has not yet confirmed the land's exact location or ownership.
A 34-year-old US citizen identified by the initials SR has drawn attention online for promoting a 0.54-hectare (54-are) plot of land for sale in Kintamani, Bangli Regency, Bali, via a Facebook video in English. Denpasar Immigration has summoned SR for clarification, though as of Thursday afternoon he had not yet appeared.
The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Nusa Dua, Bali has opened Trinity Courts, a new facility offering tennis, padel and pickleball courts. Developed in partnership with Trinity Courts SCBD in Jakarta, this marks the brand's first location in Bali and is open daily from 7am to 8pm for resort guests.
A smoke incident occurred at a commercial stall on the second floor of the international terminal at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport. Airport firefighters responded quickly, resolving the situation within about 16 minutes. No injuries were reported and airport operations continued normally.
An expatriate-only running club called Bali Silent Disco in Canggu has drawn criticism for excluding local Indonesians, prompting immigration authorities to deport two Dutch organizers. The event allegedly violated visa conditions, adding to a string of recent controversies involving foreigners in Bali, including drug smuggling, illegal work, and visa misuse.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster announced that the island welcomed 16.3 million visitors in 2025, but warned that infrastructure has not kept pace, citing worsening traffic congestion, waste volumes, and threats to clean water supply. The provincial government plans to expand road networks, waste management, and water access to address these issues.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has begun directly overseeing efforts to advance the long-planned North Bali International Airport, according to the Presidential Chief of Staff. Following an expression of support from traditional Balinese royal representatives, the government scheduled a coordination meeting in Jakarta on July 30 involving Bali's governor and relevant ministers. The airport is listed as a strategic project in Indonesia's 2025-2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan, aimed at balancing development between northern and southern Bali.
The Kuta Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center (KBSTCC) held a hatchling release event during the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) hatching season at Kuta Beach, Badung, Bali. More than 500 foreign tourists participated in releasing 500 baby turtles into their natural habitat, part of an effort to combine conservation with eco-tourism.
The Bali regional tax office (DJP Bali) and Karangasem Regency government have formed a joint team to increase tax revenue through data-driven monitoring and taxpayer education. The initiative will focus on tourism areas along Karangasem's east coast, where many unregistered taxpayers have been identified.
Indonesian immigration authorities have barred two Dutch nationals from re-entering the country over their role in organizing Entourage Bali's silent disco running event, after social media posts alleged the club rejected Indonesian applicants while accepting foreigners. The incident has triggered a broader crackdown, with several other popular running clubs in Bali pausing activities amid growing scrutiny of foreigners' conduct on the island.
Indonesia's Jasa Raharja has praised a Bali-based ride-hailing motorbike driver who refused to transport a foreign tourist who would not wear a helmet, sticking to a strict 'No Helmet, No Ride' policy despite it costing him a day's worth of bookings. The company is urging all road users, including foreign tourists, to follow traffic safety rules such as helmet use.