Bali’s reputation as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations is facing a familiar challenge: traffic congestion. Growing concerns over persistent congestion around I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport have prompted calls for faster improvements, as worsening traffic could eventually affect the island’s tourism image.
As visitor arrivals continue to increase, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster emphasized that infrastructure development must keep pace with tourism growth. According to him, expanding tourism numbers alone are not enough. The quality of transportation services and supporting infrastructure must also improve to ensure Bali remains competitive as a global destination.
Koster stressed that Bali’s tourism ecosystem needs to be continuously strengthened. This includes transportation infrastructure, security systems, and other supporting elements that contribute to visitors’ overall experience and help preserve the island’s image.
“The growth in tourist arrivals has had a positive impact on the economy of the Balinese people. However, as a world-class tourist destination, traffic congestion must become a shared concern and be resolved through an integrated approach,” he said on Monday (June 16, 2026).
The congestion issue is particularly important in the area surrounding I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali’s main gateway for domestic and international travelers. Transportation accessibility in and around the airport has become a key focus for authorities and airport operators.
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Director of Strategy and Technology Development at InJourney Airports, Ferry Kusnowo, acknowledged the importance of support from the Bali Provincial Government in addressing these accessibility challenges. He noted that cooperation between various parties is essential to finding long-term solutions.
To strengthen transportation connectivity, InJourney Airports has partnered with universities to conduct studies aimed at identifying solutions to accessibility issues. The implementation of recommendations from these studies, however, requires support from all stakeholders through an integrated, gradual, and collaborative approach.
“We have worked with Udayana University to conduct a comprehensive study on various accessibility issues to and from I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport,” he said.
Alongside research efforts, infrastructure improvements have already been carried out in the airport area. CEO of InJourney Airports Regional Office II, Wahyudi, explained that multiple measures have been implemented to improve traffic flow and enhance convenience for airport users.
Since 2024, InJourney Airports has expanded road access and added vehicle lanes within the airport complex. These improvements have produced tangible results. Congestion, which previously occurred quite frequently around the airport area, can now be managed much more effectively following the expansion and additional traffic lanes.
Even so, challenges remain beyond the airport boundaries. Increasing traffic volumes from vehicles entering and leaving the airport continue to put pressure on surrounding roads and access points.
“As the volume of vehicles traveling to and from the airport continues to increase, improvements to access points outside the airport area are still needed,” Wahyudi said.
With tourist arrivals expected to keep rising in the years ahead, ensuring smooth access to Bali’s main airport is becoming increasingly important. Addressing congestion through coordinated planning and infrastructure upgrades may prove essential not only for mobility, but also for protecting the long-term image of Bali’s tourism industry.
