Ngurah Rai Airport has added 30 new automated passport control gates in its international terminal. With these new additions, arriving tourists now have access to 60 such gates, allowing up to 120 people to clear passport control every minute.
The head of the airport’s immigration service, Suhendra, noted that this is just the beginning. By the end of August, 20 additional gates are expected to be operational in the international departure terminal.
Earlier this year, Ngurah Rai Airport installed the first 30 automated passport control terminals for international travelers. These terminals quickly proved to be a convenient and efficient alternative to manual checks, reducing border crossing time to just 20 seconds.
This is a significant time saver compared to manual checks, which can take up to 10 minutes and previously led to long queues. Considering that Bali’s airport is now one of the busiest in Indonesia, the introduction of these automated gates greatly improves the experience for travelers.
The automated system is simple and intuitive for tourists, provided they meet certain requirements. For instance, international travelers must have an electronic passport and an electronic visa, either an E-Visa or an E-VoA (Electronic Visa on Arrival). Holders of temporary residence permits (KITAS), permanent residence permits (KITAP), and citizens of visa-free countries can also use the automated gates. The latter must first register at the evisa.imigrasi.go.id website. As for Indonesian citizens, they can use the gates regardless of the type of passport they hold.
The automated check uses facial recognition technology, and within seconds, artificial intelligence verifies travelers against mandatory databases to ensure that individuals on watchlists or Interpol's wanted list do not enter the country. According to statistics, even such individuals sometimes try to visit the island paradise.
While the presence of automated gates has not completely replaced immigration officers, manual passport control counters still exist in small numbers. These are designated for tourists with older passports or those who paid for a visa on arrival directly at the airport. Additionally, special administrators stationed at the gates can direct travelers to officers if the automated system fails, though such issues are rare when documents are in order—most of the time, simply trying again resolves the problem.
The installation of these gates is not the only upgrade at Bali’s airport. According to General Manager Handy Heryudhitiawan, the airport is undergoing more extensive modernization than what tourists may notice. This includes upgrading passenger screening points, constructing new pedestrian bridges, and expanding access roads. Heryudhitiawan added, "During optimization work, we are installing road signs and deploying airport security personnel to ensure that all travelers have a safe and comfortable experience."
These measures are crucial, according to the airport’s General Manager, as Bali is poised to welcome more international travelers this year than ever before in the island's tourism history.
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