This year, Indonesians are enjoying an entire festive week in honor of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr. From March 29 to April 7, many organizations are closed. This has already led to serious traffic jams at the Ketapang-Gilimanuk port, which connects Java and Bali.
While Muslims working in Bali are traveling to visit relatives on Java and other islands, followers of other religions are heading to the Island of the Gods to fully enjoy their holiday. Judging by the situation, Indonesian travelers seem to prefer the quiet resort town of Sanur, with its comfortable beaches and pleasant swimming conditions. This is why the area is currently experiencing significant traffic congestion. Additional traffic officers have already been deployed at the busiest intersections and are doing their best to manage the situation.
Getting to the Icon Mall Sanur and the beach is especially difficult these days. On one of the days, the mall’s parking lot ran out of spaces, causing near-complete traffic blockage. Delays are also reported on roads like Jalan Danau Toba and Jalan Danau Tamblingan, where traffic officers have been sent in the first place. They help motorcyclists and drivers navigate intersections faster and assist visitors to Icon Mall Sanur in finding the best parking spots.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that many people are using Sanur Port to travel to Nusa Penida, Lembongan, or Ceningan. As a result, one of the measures taken by the local traffic police was to close access to the beach for four-wheeled vehicles.
“We have deployed personnel at strategic points to regulate traffic flow and optimize road management. We are also coordinating with various parties, including local community representatives and parking staff, to keep the situation under control and ensure that residents can move around comfortably,” added Agus Adi Apriyoga.
The police chief noted that this work will continue until the tourist flow subsides — which is expected to happen after April 8. In the meantime, tourists are advised to allow extra travel time when getting around the island and visiting attractions.
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