Latest news with #NgurahRai
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Australian airports thrown into chaos as flights are DELAYED to Bali after volcano erupted
Hundreds of Aussie holidaymakers' travel plans have been thrown into chaos after Indonesia 's Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki volcano erupted. The eruption on Monday sent ash and other volcanic material as high as 18 kilometres into the sky, causing at least five Virgin and Jetstar flights from Australia to be cancelled. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, which has erupted for a second time in as many months, also caused multiple delays at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport. The chaos continued on Tuesday morning as more flights from Australia were delayed or cancelled. Virgin Australia has delayed two scheduled morning departures out of Brisbane and Melbourne to Denpasar until later on Tuesday. 'Our team of expert meteorologists is closely monitoring conditions and ash cloud activity following the eruption of Mount Lewotobi yesterday,' a Virgin Australia spokesperson said. 'We encourage guests travelling to or from Bali today to closely monitor their flight status via the Virgin Australia website or app.'
News.com.au
07-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Pay up': Warning for tourists headed to Bali
Bali made a record-breaking $87,000 in one day from the Tourism Tax Levy earlier this year, and with an influx of international visitors expected to descend on the island throughout 2025, the government is reminding tourists to 'pay up'. The island introduced the 150,000 IDR ($15) Tourism Tax Levy fee in February last year with plans to use the money to help protect Bali's culture and customs, as well as protecting the island's natural environment and sustainable tourism practices. Data from the Bali Provincial Government revealed the province received IDR 168 billion in revenue between January and June 2025 – about $A16 million. Bali governor Wayan Koster said on one record-breaking day, Bali received IDR 933 million – $A87,000. According to The Bali Sun, he told reporters if this trend continues, the potential annual revenue is estimated to reach IDR 340 billion. Aussies still make up a huge chunk of overseas visitors, with travel data shared by Ngurah Rai Immigration revealing 344,639 Aussies visited the island in January to March. However, while the island continues to attract plenty of tourists, in turn boosting its economy, not everyone is contributing to the tourism tax, with as few as 35 per cent of visitors having paid the mandatory fee by the end of the first year of the policy. According to Time magazine, Mr Koster said those who fail to pay the fee may face consequences ranging from being denied entry to attractions, fines, or even deportation. He said he is working with a range of stakeholders, including in the hotel sector, to ensure the funds are spent in ways that benefit Bali residents, the environment, and tourists. Tourists are encouraged to pay the fee before arriving to Bali via Love Bali – part of the official government website. Travellers will need their passport number and email address handy. There is also the option to select 'Group' if travelling with family or friends. Each member will then be emailed a unique QR code. The payment can also be made on arrival at Bali's main airport – I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. However, some have complained it adds an extra step in the arrivals process. The goal of the tourism tax is to help the government 'preserve the integrity and balance of Bali's nature, its people, and their culture'.
News.com.au
30-06-2025
- News.com.au
‘You're not going home mate': Aussie's Bali visa hell
There's nothing quite like the sinking feeling in your stomach when a customs official pulls you out of the regular airport queue. I was at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, tired and ready to get home to Sydney after almost six weeks in Bali, but would shortly learn that I wasn't going anywhere. Instead, it was the beginning of my most stressful travel experience ever, practically ruining my 'eat pray love' reset in Bali, costing thousands of dollars, and throwing my Euro summer plans into chaos. The issue? A technicality. Visa rules in Indonesia quietly changed on May 29th, and because I was already on the ground in Bali, I missed the memo. If you're planning to stay longer than 30 days as a tourist, you must now have the extension processed in person at an immigration office. Previously, you could just do it all online. And so on June 2nd, four days after the new rules began, I paid the 519,500 IDR ($51) renewal fee via my laptop inside an Ubud cafe, smoothie bowl in one hand and a credit card in the other, but oblivious to these changes. Because I hadn't followed up my extension application with the now-mandated, in-person visit to Denpasar's Immigration office, I was about to pay the price, quite literally. A small mistake with huge consequences When the customs officer was taking longer than usual checking over my passport, I knew something was up. I was pulled out of the queue and taken over to speak to another officer, then another, and eventually led to a small, depressing counter in the corner of the international departures terminal marked 'Overstay Payment'. I've been to Bali more times than I can count and never had an issue like this before — that's when the horror really began to unfold. The official explained to me that my visa extension was sitting in limbo until someone at an immigration office could physically process it. And until that happened, I wasn't going anywhere. Making matters worse, it was late on a Saturday night and every immigration office in Bali was closed until Monday morning. This set off a chain of unfortunate events where I missed both my flight home and my upcoming flight to London. It felt like the ground beneath me had fallen away. I was positively reeling and I tried everything to get onto that plane. 'You're not going home mate' Reasoning and pleading with them, I tried explaining I'd already paid the extension fee, showing them the receipt, and that I'd followed the process as I understood it. That I was already in Bali when the rules had changed. But nothing worked, the customs officers weren't budging. Rules are rules. A fellow traveller was next to me at the overstaying counter in a similar position. He leaned over and said, 'You're not going home tonight, mate.' I just stared at him. He was right. Then came the moment which made it all real. Escorted back through immigration, then airport security and finally to the check-in counter, I watched as an airline staffer retrieved my suitcase, which by this time had been already loaded onto the plane. As they took back my boarding pass out of my hands, it felt like it all happened in slow motion and I was gutted. And here's the part that makes no sense. You'd think if you'd overstayed, regardless of the visa extension, you'd simply just pay the fine and be allowed to leave. But no. I had to stay longer. Indonesian customs wouldn't let me pay the fine for overstaying my visa, explaining that I actually hadn't technically overstayed, I'd just failed to have the extension processed. Standing in that airport, watching a terminal full of other travellers all getting to head home, I felt completely helpless and hamstrung. It was an impossible situation and there was literally nothing I could do, I was up the creek without a paddle (well, actually it was without an approved tourist visa extension). Composing myself, I left the airport and checked into a Kuta hotel until I could visit the nearest immigration office in person days later. The worst part? How easily it could have been avoided if I'd known about the rule change. I never received any kind of automated email from the Indonesian government after paying for the extension fee online, or a reminder in the days leading up to the debacle that the application was incomplete. And yes, there's no one to really blame but myself. Two days later, it was Monday morning and I was at the Denpasar Immigration Office first thing. After waiting about an hour, it took all of 30 seconds to approve the visa extension, setting me free to leave Bali on the next plane home - and without a fine. It was a huge relief but the financial hit was still high. 'Ineligible for any compensation' Rescheduling my flights home to Sydney, along with my upcoming flight to London, plus sorting out the extra accommodation ended up costing more than $2000, which really stung given I'm also in-between jobs right now. Paying the overstay fine at the airport would've actually been cheaper. I'd stayed 11 extra days at the time all of this unfolded so I would have been fined around 11,000,000 IDR (or $1100, around $100 a day). My travel insurer was sympathetic but later said I was ultimately ineligible for any compensation. And I'm not the only one. I shared what had happened on social media and some friends reached out saying the same thing had happened to them. Meantime, it took a pretty basic search online to find Facebook groups where other travellers have been left equally confused and surprised at the changes. Ultimately, the silver lining was returning to the airport and finally clearing customs for real. The relief and gratitude I felt as I boarded my flight home was palpable. So here's my advice. If you're going to Bali, don't assume the visa process is the same as last time. Don't leave it to the last minute. Read every word and triple check the rules. Because this is one great way to turn a dream trip into a holiday nightmare. Not quite White Lotus levels of death and disaster, but hey, it's right up there. New Bali visa rules leave Aussie travellers stuck Aussie tourists are being caught out by quiet changes to Indonesia's visa rules, with many now facing unexpected delays at the airport. Since May 29, 2025, travellers wanting to stay in Indonesia for more than 30 days, including those on a Visa on Arrival, must now attend an in-person interview and photo session at an immigration office to finalise their visa extension. While tourists can still start the application online, it won't be approved until you show up in person. The change was introduced by the Directorate General of Immigration to crack down on visa misuse and tighten control over who stays in the country. Authorities say hundreds of travellers and companies have already been flagged for breaking the rules this year. Some vulnerable travellers, like the elderly or pregnant women, can still complete the whole process in person with help at the office. Travellers who need to extend their stay are strongly advised to begin the process well in advance to avoid fines, delays or being denied departure.
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Daily Mail
I was ready to go back to Sydney after spending six weeks in Bali... but customs wouldn't let me leave because of a minor rule change I had never heard of
An Aussie traveller has shared an urgent warning after an honest mistake left him stranded in Bali. Troy Nankervis said on Instagram his nightmare began because he was unaware of an important rule change to visas. Indonesian authorities introduced on May 29 new face-to-face requirements for visa extensions. Anyone wanting to stay in the country for more than 30 days, including those using the popular visa-on-arrival option, must attend an in-person interview and photo session at an immigration office. Mr Nankervis was already in Bali when he went to renew his visa online on June 2 so he could stay in the country a little longer. He was unaware of the changes that had been made to the rules days earlier, and did not go in person to Denpasar's immigration office to finalise the visa. Mr Nankervis spent six weeks in the country in total before he went to Ngurah Rai International Airport to catch a flight back to Sydney. 'I was all checked in at the airport at Denpasar last night. I was going through customs and the officer told me I'd overstayed my visa,' he said. 'I was in a pretty impossible situation. They wouldn't let me pay the fine. The fine usually is about 1million rupiah, 100 bucks a day.' Mr Nankervis said he was pulled out of the queue and immigration officers escorted him back through airport security and retrieved his suitcase, which had already been loaded onto the plane for his flight back home. Despite it being late on a Saturday night, he was told he was not allowed to fly home to Sydney until he presented to the immigration office on Monday. He checked himself into a Kuta hotel. The delay meant he not only missed his flight back home to Sydney, but also his upcoming flight to London. Mr Nankervis said it was frustrating that despite paying for the extension fee online when renewing his visa, there was no automated email from the Indonesian government that his application was incomplete. He presented to the Denpasar Immigration office at 8am on Monday, and after waiting an hour, it took 'all of 30 seconds' to approve the visa extension. 'It's been one of the most expensive, frustrating hiccups I've ever done, and on a technicality,' he said. 'It's been a very stressful 48 hours and very expensive in terms of rebooking flights. 'My advice is, if you're flying to Indonesia and want to extend your tourist visa, book an appointment in person at the office.' Mr Nankervis said, all up, rescheduling his flight home to Sydney and to London, as well as extra accommodation in Bali, left him more than $2,000 out of pocket. Indonesia Immigration revealed the key reason for the sudden changes in visa extension policy was to crack down on foreigners breaking the law and abusing the visa system.
CNA
18-06-2025
- CNA
Bali flights cancelled after Indonesia volcano eruption
JAKARTA: At least two dozen flights to and from the Indonesian resort island of Bali have been cancelled, its international airport website showed on Wednesday (Jun 18), after a volcano in the archipelago's east erupted, shooting an ash tower 10km into the sky. Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,703m twin-peaked volcano on the eastern tourist island of Flores, erupted on Tuesday, with authorities raising its alert status to the highest level. The flights cancelled included Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, with Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines also cancelling flights "due to volcano", Bali's international airport website said. Several domestic AirAsia flights leaving for Labuan Bajo on Flores were also cancelled. "Ngurah Rai is still operating normally but it depends on the flight schedule, but some of the flights are cancelled due to a volcano. It depends on the route and also the airline," a Bali airport customer service agent who declined to give their name told AFP. Volcanic ash rained down on several villages around Lewotobi Laki-Laki and forced the evacuation of at least one village late on Tuesday, the country's disaster mitigation agency said. There were no immediate reports of damages or casualties. In November, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki erupted multiple times, killing nine people, cancelling scores of international flights to the tourist island of Bali and forcing thousands to evacuate. Laki-Laki, which means "man" in Indonesian, is twinned with a calmer volcano named after the Indonesian word for "woman".
