Tourists Urged to Book Accommodations in Bali Ahead of Nypei and Eid al-Fitr
With the Balinese Hindu festival of Nypei coinciding with the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr on the same weekend this March 2025, travelers planning to visit the idyllic island of Bali are facing an urgent reminder to secure their accommodations promptly. The overlapping holidays are expected to ignite a significant surge in visitors, putting hotel availability at risk for those who delay their bookings.
Historically, many tourists opt to secure their lodging months in advance, particularly for high-demand periods like holidays. However, there remains a notable portion of visitors who relish the flexibility of spontaneous travel, seeking last-minute deals. As the festive dates approach, these travelers may find availability increasingly hard to come by.
Increased Tourism Anticipated
Between March 28 and April 6, 2025, Bali is preparing for an influx of tourists, compounded by the fact that tens of millions of Indonesians will be traveling to celebrate Eid, locally known as Lebaran. This could lead to an unprecedented number of daily visitors. I Gusti Agung Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali, estimates that around 20,000 domestic tourists will arrive each day during this peak period.
Suryawijaya expressed his expectations of a 10 percent increase in tourist arrivals, observing the daily influx of domestic travelers from major cities such as Jakarta, Semarang, and Jogjakarta. Popular resort areas like Kuta, Legian, Jimbaran, and Canggu are anticipated to be brimming with holidaymakers seeking sun and relaxation.
Hotel Occupancy Rates Set to Rise
The anticipated surge in arrivals is already impacting hotel occupancy rates. Suryawijaya predicts that occupancy will increase by at least 10 percent during the festival, making it crucial for prospective visitors to book accommodations without delay. Tjok Bagus Pemayun, Head of the Bali Tourism Office, echoed these sentiments, estimating a potential 20 percent rise in occupancy rates, with many properties likely reaching full capacity.
Travelers are advised that the best time to book accommodations would be as soon as possible. As Pemayun noted, the demand typically begins to escalate seven days before Eid, resulting in occupancy levels soaring to 60-70 percent.
Travel Costs and Other Considerations
While the surge in tourists is favorable for the industry, rising airfare costs pose a challenge for some domestic travelers, limiting their ability to journey to Bali. Pemayun acknowledged that many potential visitors are deterred by high flight prices, alongside concerns related to recent extreme weather patterns.
Looking at last year’s figures, the total passenger traffic through Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport during Eid al-Fitr rose to 1,059,069 across both international and domestic terminals in 2024, an increase from the 998,000 travelers in 2023. With momentum expected to continue into 2025, Bali aims to welcome at least 6.5 million international tourists, alongside millions of domestic travelers.
As the festive period draws closer, both the tourism industry and prospective visitors are poised for a bustling holiday season in Bali. For those planning to celebrate in paradise, early accommodation bookings seem essential to avoid disappointment and ensure a memorable holiday experience.
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