Bali governor says fuel shortage has not reduced tourist arrivals
Bali Governor Wayan Koster said fuel shortages had not reduced October tourism, while queues, distribution delays and a temporary odd-even purchasing system disrupted transport across the island.
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· 2 min read
Bali — Bali Governor Wayan Koster said on Monday, October 19, 2026, that fuel-supply problems had not disrupted tourism on the island, citing increases in international and domestic flights and foreign tourist arrivals during October.
Why it matters: Visitors and tourism businesses faced fuel queues and transport disruption, while the odd-even purchasing system remained in effect through October 23, 2026.
Koster said fuel supplies had returned to normal after shortages at some filling stations, including in Buleleng and Karangasem, according to Detik Bali. He said Pertalite stocks stood at 30 million litres and Pertamax at 10 million litres, enough for an estimated 12 days.
The governor’s assessment came after queues formed at filling stations in Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar and other parts of Bali. BBC News Indonesia reported that queues in some locations stretched 700 metres to more than 1 kilometre, including in the tourist areas of Kuta and Seminyak.
The disruption was linked to distribution delays rather than a lack of fuel at Bali’s main depots, according to BBC News Indonesia. Koster said traffic congestion and a surge in demand caused by public concern had slowed deliveries from the Manggis and Sanggaran depots to filling stations.
Tourism operators and visitors nevertheless reported practical effects. AFP reported that a tourist said a lack of petrol forced him to cancel planned activities, while fuel shortages also affected transport operations in tourist areas.
The governor had earlier extended an odd-even system for fuel purchases based on vehicle registration numbers through Friday, October 23, BBC News Indonesia reported. Filling stations in the tourism-heavy areas of Denpasar and Badung were also scheduled to operate around the clock, with deliveries from depots continuing throughout the day and night.
Koster said the situation showed no sign of reducing tourist arrivals, but the distribution measures remained in place as authorities worked to ease queues and restore regular supplies at filling stations.
Sources
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