March 2026

As a 29 year resident, news publisher, realtor, developer and hotel, villa manager in Bali, I believe that the most significant regulatory "cleanup" the island has seen in decades will be enacted tomorrow. The law itself is very real and targets the "grey market" of unlicensed rentals. The legal deadline is March 31, 2026. Starting April 1, 2026, the digital "gatekeeper" system goes...

Bali, one of the world’s most sought-after travel destinations, is contemplating the implementation of a pay-per-destination fee system for tourists visiting popular attractions. This proposal, aimed at supporting the island’s sustainability efforts, follows the success of existing entrance fees introduced at locations like Kintamani and Nusa Penida. As Bali continues to face...

Both the Indonesian Minister for Tourism, Widiyanti Wardhana, and the Deputy Tourism Minister, Ni Luh Puspa, have visited Bali this week and stopped by some of the island’s most popular attractions. Ni Luh Puspa headed to the central highlands and visited Bali Botanical Gardens in Bedugul. Minister Wardhana set off for Gianyar Regency and visited Bali Safari.  The Minister stopped and...

Bali’s most sacred volcano will be closed to the public for the next month. Mount Agung, which is Bali’s tallest and most spiritually significant peak, will be closed for cleaning ceremonies; this means that all tourist visits and hikes will be prohibited. Here at The Bali Sun, we keep our readers up to speed with the latest news on the island and upcoming events that may impact travel...

As one of Bali’s fastest-growing tourism hotspots, Kintamani has seen a surge in visitors, and recently, this beautiful region has garnered attention for its new visitor fees. Kintamani, once merely a coffee stop for those heading to Mount Batur, is now a prominent destination offering breathtaking views of the volcano, incredible coffee roasters, and much more. However, a recent wave of social media...

Have you ever wondered where people who live in the holiday destinations you yearn to visit go on holiday? Well, in Bali, this is a good question. With Indonesia home to 17,000 islands, Indonesians have plenty of their own country to explore, but there is one small island off Bali that locals have recently loved to visit on vacation more than any other. It should be noted that, due to major...

Bali has just welcomed a new luxury centre to the scene. The new Secret Garden Spring complex can be found in the heart of Kuta along Sunset Road. The new lifestyle destination is not only super luxurious but is home to a fantastic range of facilities for both locals and tourists to enjoy.  Secret Garden Spring has celebrated its soft launch this week, and visitors are already praising...

Newcastle Airport connects directly to Singapore through Jetstar’s innovative Bali extension, revolutionizing tourism from Australia’s Hunter region. Starting March 29, 2026, four weekly flights operate Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, featuring a seamless same-plane stop in Denpasar before reaching Singapore. This development profoundly impacts tourism by...

The village Pecalang helps secure the 1447 Hijriah Eid al-Fitr prayer at Lumintang Square, Denpasar, Bali, Saturday (21/3/2026). ANTARA/Ni Putu Putri Muliantari DENPASAR - Muslims in Denpasar echoed the spirit of religious moderation in the implementation of the 1447 Hijriah Eid prayer which took place in the Lumintang Square, Saturday, March 21. The Khatib of the prayer, Masrur, emphasized the...

There is a lot of talk happening in Bali right now about policy changes that could affect Airbnb listings. For more than five years, leaders in Bali have been working to crack down on accommodation providers operating outside the law, including some listings on Airbnb.  For leaders in Bali, the presence of Airbnb has long been a contentious issue. While the platform is legal in...