Bali travel agencies reroute itineraries as fuel queues cause congestion

Jimbaran — Bali travel agencies adjusted tourist itineraries on 17 October 2026 as fuel-station queues caused congestion in several areas, while the island’s tourism association said it had recorded no trip cancellations linked to the disruption.

Why it matters: Visitors in Bali may face itinerary changes and traffic delays, while temporary fuel-distribution measures and an odd-even system affect refuelling from 17 to 19 October 2026.

I Putu Winastra, chairman of the Bali chapter of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies, said agencies were directing visitors already on the island toward destinations that were closer and less crowded. Routes were changed to keep holiday schedules operating despite traffic problems around fuel stations.

Some travellers originally scheduled to visit Tanah Lot could instead be taken to a nearer destination, according to a report by Detik Bali. Winastra also said queues had made it difficult for some association members to reach I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

The disruption came as authorities and Pertamina Patra Niaga worked to restore fuel distribution across Bali. Pertamina said it was delivering 57.9 million litres of fuel between 14 and 17 October, comprising 44.9 million litres of Pertalite and 13 million litres of Pertamax, according to Tempo.

Pertamina also sent four tanker trucks from Banyuwangi to help distribute fuel to stations. The company increased the number of 24-hour stations in Denpasar from 24 to 60, while Tempo reported that 52 stations across Bali had been mapped for round-the-clock service.

A separate temporary measure began on 17 October: subsidised-fuel purchases were organised under an odd-even licence-plate system across Bali. Vehicles with odd-numbered plates could refuel on 17 October, even-numbered vehicles on 18 October, and the arrangement was scheduled to continue through 19 October.

Sources

• Detik Bali
• Tempo
• AFP