Southeast Asian holiday island loses 800 tourists a day amid Middle East airspace disruptions
Stranded passengers hang around Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport on March 2 2026. Photo by AFP
Indonesia’s popular resort island of Bali has experienced a short-term fall in international tourist arrivals, with roughly 800 fewer visitors arriving each day, largely from Middle Eastern markets, as airspace disruptions linked to escalating regional conflict affected flight routes.
“There has been a decrease in foreign tourist arrivals in the past four days,” Bali Governor Wayan Koster said on Thursday as quoted by Jakarta Globe.
The decline has been mainly attributed to airspace restrictions in parts of the Middle East, which have forced airlines to cancel some services and modify transit routes.
Travelers from Europe, who typically connect through major Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai or Doha, are increasingly rerouting through cities in Singapore or Thailand to reach Bali, Koster said.
Figures from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport show that at least 35 international flights were canceled between Feb. 28 and March 4, including services operated by Etihad Airways, Emirates, and Qatar Airways on routes linking Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha with Denpasar, the The Bali Sun reported.
To assist travelers whose flights were disrupted and who risked overstaying their visas, Bali’s immigration office has introduced a free same-day emergency stay permit for affected foreigners, according to AFP.
Renowned for its scenic landscapes, sandy beaches, vibrant traditions, historic sites, and centuries-old temples, Bali remains one of Southeast Asia’s most sought-after tourist destinations.
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