The Bali Transportation Agency stated that until now there has been no serious discussion regarding the proposal to prohibit vehicles with license plates other than DK from entering Bali during the Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025.
This discourse has caused controversy in the community. The Bali Transportation Department emphasized that they have not conducted a special study related to the implementation of the policy.
“There hasn’t been any discussion about that, we haven’t seriously discussed it yet, and there hasn’t been any specific study on whether it can be implemented,” said the Head of Bali Transportation Agency, IGW Samsi Gunarta, in Denpasar on Monday, December 9th 2024.
He is also aware of the public’s concern about the high number of vehicles with Balinese outer plates operating on the Island of the Gods, especially those used to transport tourists or be rented.
Public Concerns and Policy Feasibility
Previously, Bali Regional House of Representatives Council proposed a ban on vehicles using external plates numbers entering Bali during the Christmas and New Year holidays to support the local tourism sector.
The idea is to close access for vehicles with plates outside Bali to enter the area. He emphasized that access restrictions for vehicles with Balinese outer plates need to be considered more carefully.
If the policy is implemented in the future, the legal basis must be clear. Technical planning is also necessary, such as traffic management and the determination of the location of non-DK vehicles must be stopped or temporarily stored.
Concerns Raised Over Vehicle Ban
AntaraNews reports that, it is estimated that there will be a 19-20 percent increase in visitors to Bali during the end-of-year holiday. It can lead to congestion at Ngurah Rai Airport, Mengwi Terminal, ports, and tourist areas.
The Bali Transportation Department was asked to map areas prone to congestion in the three days leading up to Christmas and New Year 2025.
According to Detik.com, the Chairman of Commission II of the Bali Regional House of Representatives Council, Agung Bagus Praktisa Linggih, stated that the policy aims to support local Balinese travelers who contribute to regional income.
However, on the other hand, the Chairman of Bali chapter of Indonesian Transportation Society, I Made Rai Ridartha, argued that the ban could cause problems for Balinese people who often travel outside the island, such as for spiritual trips (tirta yatra). They would have to change vehicles when entering other regions such as Java or Lombok.
