Holiday Magic: Bali Sees Thriving Tourist Revival During Christmas Rush!

Christmas Holiday Brings Tourist Surge Back to Bali

Bali is experiencing a significant resurgence in tourist arrivals during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, signaling a positive rebound after weeks of subdued activity caused by unfavorable weather and travel concerns in other parts of Indonesia.

On Friday, December 26, 2025, the domestic arrivals terminal at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport bustled with travelers from various regions of Indonesia eager to enjoy their year-end holidays on the renowned resort island. Many domestic tourists opted to travel just after Christmas, taking advantage of the extended holiday period leading up to the New Year.

Wayan Pasek, a local tourism industry worker, noted that while visitor numbers had dipped earlier in December, they started picking up momentum around Christmas. “Compared with last year, the numbers are lower, but the curve is rising again. Since Christmas, it’s been getting busy,” he remarked. “Traffic is starting to build up, roads are crowded, and the airport is clearly busy again.” Pasek added that most of his clientele consisted of domestic tourists, although foreign visitors are becoming more visible, with peak arrivals anticipated on December 31 in time for New Year celebrations.

According to airport operator Angkasa Pura, daily passenger traffic during this holiday period reflects the surge: approximately 30,543 domestic passengers—including 16,779 arrivals and 13,764 departures—and an even higher international throughput with 40,203 passengers per day, comprising 23,808 arrivals and 16,395 departures.

The influx of tourists is especially noticeable in Kuta, Bali’s most iconic tourist hub, where traffic congestion has returned to key roads such as Jalan Patih Jelantik and Jalan Raya Legian. Vehicles with out-of-province license plates dominate these thoroughfares, accompanied by foreign tourists maneuvering rented motorbikes through slow-moving traffic. Congestion tends to peak in the late afternoon, as visitors flock to Kuta Beach to witness the famous sunset—a longstanding attraction for island guests. Meanwhile, nightlife venues along Legian street have begun filling up earlier than usual, with queues forming outside clubs well before nightfall.

Jakarta tourist Handoko shared his family’s travel plans, explaining that work schedules prompted their post-Christmas visit. “We could only come now because the children just started their holidays,” he said, adding that they plan to stay for six days before returning to the capital ahead of New Year’s Eve.

Local tour guide Erna expressed optimism that the recent increase in visitors dispels fears of a prolonged tourism slump. She attributed the earlier slowdown to poor weather and widespread anxiety over flooding in other regions of Indonesia. “Now that the weather has improved and Christmas is here, tourists are coming back,” she said. “I hope this positive trend continues into the New Year.”

This festive-season uptick in tourism activity is encouraging for Bali’s economy, reaffirming the island’s status as a favored destination for both domestic and international travelers during the holiday period.