Eyewitness – BADUNG
Head Officer of Ngurah Rai Immigration, Bugie Kurniawan explain at Morning Coffee with all members Media in immigration office May 6,2026. “Bali Immigration services at international airports are operating smoothly, rapidly, and efficiently. As the primary gateway to Bali for international tourists, the quality of immigration services is a crucial factor in supporting the local tourism climate”.
​Significant Surge in Passenger Traffic
​In recent years, the movement of both Indonesian citizens (WNI) and foreign nationals (WNA) has shown a significant upward trend. Data from January to April 2026 recorded over 4.5 million crossings in and out of Indonesia, with approximately 4 million involving foreign nationals. This reflects high global mobility and Indonesia’s strong international appeal. Foreign tourist arrivals specifically saw a 10% increase compared to the same period last year, reinforcing Bali’s status as a top global destination despite more selective visa policies.
Navigating Global Geopolitical Challenges
​Despite the positive numbers, global dynamics—such as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East—have impacted international travel, leading to some flight cancellations by foreign nationals to those regions. Immigration authorities have closely monitored this situation. As of April 15, 2026, the Directorate General of Immigration concluded the provision of Emergency Stay Permits (ITKT) and “zero rupiah” overstay fee waivers for affected foreign nationals as part of a strategic policy shift.
​Optimizing Services through Technology and Collaboration
​To address these challenges, immigration is optimizing services by strengthening coordination with airport stakeholders, including:
• ​Angkasa Pura / InJourney
• ​CIQ (Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine)
• ​Airport Authorities (Otban)
• ​Foreign Representative Offices
​Key technological advancements are being prioritized to improve the traveler experience, such as Autogates, the “Always on Indonesia” application, and E-Visa services to expedite inspections.
Infrastructure Improvements at Ngurah Rai
​Recognizing that the arrival area at Ngurah Rai International Airport is more compact than Soekarno-Hatta’s Terminal 3, officials are redesigning the passenger flow to reduce congestion. Previously, the proximity of various service desks (Visa on Arrival, Quarantine, etc.) created a crowded environment.
​The new strategy involves:
• ​Sterilizing the central arrival area to create a seamless path toward immigration counters.
• ​Relocating VoA desks to the sides of the arrival hall.
• ​Expanding Autogate usage, which offers rapid yet high-security clearance using digital encryption keys for e-passports.
​By fostering a faster, smoother, and more comfortable immigration process, authorities aim to maintain Bali’s growth and reputation as a world-class destination amidst an unpredictable global landscape”, Bugie added.
Reporter : Daniel Herry
