Bali Airport Records 2.1 Million Passengers in October! Year-End Peak Season Kicks Off
I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport released its October 2026 operational data, reporting 2.1 million passengers for the month, a 2.5% increase from September.
According to data released by airport management unit Angkasa Pura Indonesia on November 13, the airport served the following in October:
- Passenger traffic: 2.1 million
- Flight movements: 12,900
- International passengers: 1.3 million
- Domestic passengers: 756,000
Flight movements in October increased by 8.5% compared to September.
From January to October 2026, Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport recorded a cumulative passenger traffic of 19.7 million, including approximately 12.7 million international passengers and 7 million domestic passengers.
For international routes, the highest passenger traffic was on flights to and from Singapore, followed by Kuala Lumpur, Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney.
Airport management stated that the growth in October passenger traffic helps prepare for the peak Christmas and New Year holiday season (Nataru), and they will continue to enhance airport facilities, services, and staffing.
For travelers planning a Bali vacation from late November to December, it is recommended to allow extra time for airport transfers, especially during international arrival and departure periods.
Denpasar Festival 2026 Opens Applications for 84 Vendor Booths! Deadline November 16
Denpasar’s annual cultural event, Denpasar Festival (Denfest) 2026, has begun recruiting participating vendors.
The Denpasar City Government opened applications for 84 vendor booths on November 13, primarily offering local micro and small enterprises (UMKM) the opportunity to participate in the annual cultural and commercial event.
Application period:
- Start date: November 13, 2026
- Deadline: November 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM
- Booth quota: 84 stalls
Eligibility is primarily for micro-enterprise operators within Denpasar city; applicants must hold a Denpasar ID card, a Business Identification Number (NIB), and have a local business location.
Denfest is a key annual event in Denpasar, blending local culture, art performances, specialty cuisine, and commercial exhibitions, offering local businesses a chance to reach more consumers.
The exact dates for Denfest 2026 are still subject to official announcements from the organizers. Some reports suggest it is expected to take place from December 28 to 31, but other event details have not been fully confirmed.
For travelers, Denfest is typically an opportunity to deeply experience Denpasar’s local culture at the end of the year, making it worth keeping an eye on subsequent official event arrangements.
Bank Indonesia Expands QRIS Payments in Bali! Focus on Northern and Eastern Regions
Bank Indonesia’s Bali branch has announced further expansion of the QRIS digital payment system beyond southern Bali.
QRIS is Indonesia’s unified QR Code electronic payment standard, allowing travelers and residents to scan and pay using QRIS-supported payment apps.
According to data released at the Baligivation event held in Sanur on November 12, as of September 2026:
- QRIS users: approximately 1.3 million people
- Merchants supporting QRIS: approximately 1.18 million
- Total QRIS transaction value: approximately IDR 10.6 trillion
- Transaction volume: approximately 91.4 million
- Year-on-year transaction value growth: approximately 47%
Currently, QRIS merchants are still concentrated in Denpasar, Badung Regency, and Gianyar Regency (Sarbagia):
- Denpasar: 457,470 merchants
- Badung Regency: 308,599 merchants
- Gianyar Regency: 121,555 merchants
Bank Indonesia has stated that it will strengthen QRIS promotion in Buleleng (North Bali), Karangasem (East Bali), and other regions, collaborating with local governments and traditional markets to boost digital payment adoption.
This initiative also holds practical significance for Bali tourism. As digital payments become more widespread, travelers may find it easier to make purchases in some non-major tourist areas.
However, travelers are still advised to carry some cash, as not all merchants support QRIS yet, and foreign tourists typically need an app or account that supports Indonesia’s payment system to use QRIS.
4. Bali Launches ARISE Disaster Fiscal Analysis System! First Region in Indonesia to Implement
The Bali provincial government is strengthening disaster risk management and has begun using the ARISE (Adaptive Regional Integrated System for Fiscal Resilience) system to analyze the potential fiscal impact of disasters.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster attended the ARISE Dashboard capacity-building training in Denpasar on November 10, and the provincial government released related information on November 13.
ARISE is a data-driven system designed to help local governments assess the fiscal burden that natural disasters may bring.
The system aims to assist the government in:
- Analyzing potential economic losses from natural disasters
- Evaluating fiscal expenditure needs after a disaster occurs
- Planning disaster response budgets in advance
- Integrate risk analysis into the local government annual budget (APBD)
The Bali Provincial Government states that Bali is the first local government in Indonesia to implement the ARISE system.
The system was developed in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance, ITB, and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
Governor Koster noted that as an international tourist destination, Bali must have robust disaster response capabilities. Beyond physical infrastructure like roads, drainage, and rescue equipment, it also needs to prepare sufficient financial resources in advance.
This measure is primarily an internal risk management tool for the government, not a service directly accessible to travelers. However, for Bali’s long-term tourism development, enhancing disaster response and the stability of public services holds significant importance.
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