Roads leading to Ngurah Rai International Airport of Bali especially starting from by-pass road was flocked on Saturday, July 18th. Fortunately initial prediction that the traffic surge was caused by tourists exodus related to bomb blast in Jakarta was proven to be wrong. The congestion was resulted by increasing security check at the entrance gate to the airport.

Normally vehicles only stop for about 10-20 seconds to pick parking ticket. Yesterday all incoming vehicles went through very strict screening, more than vehicle, physical check also implemented to passengers’ body. “We do not want to take any risk”, the General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I, the airport operating company, Heru Legowo, told the press.

To avoid congestion, Legowo suggested those driving from Nusa Dua to Kuta to avoid airport road or Jalan Raya Tuban, and take either Simpang Siur or Sunset Road instead. Whilst the route is a bit longer, the traffic normally runs smoother.

Meanwhile airline passenger traffic so far remains stable. Number of arriving passengers, mostly foreign tourists, was ranging between 5,000 and 6,000 per day during the last one week. Departure also ranged at similar number. “We haven’t seen any sign of exodus”, said Legowo.