Bali News｜September 8, 2026
💧 Severe Water Crisis Hits Gili Trawangan! Tourists Begin Leaving, Hotels Even Pump Pool Water
Although Gili Trawangan is not part of Bali, it’s a popular extension trip for many Bali travelers, so this news is worth noting.
Gili Trawangan has faced a serious water supply issue since September 4, right in the peak tourist season, significantly affecting local hotels and guesthouses.
Some hotels have even been forced to pump water from swimming pools or purchase drinking and household water from outside the island to keep basic operations running. Local tourism operators report that some foreign tourists have already left early due to the water shortage.
The North Lombok government has now requested PDAM to assist with water supply, providing approximately 70 cubic meters of water daily to ease the plight of residents and tourism businesses.
Advice for Bali Travelers
If your itinerary includes:
Bali → Gili Trawangan
It’s best to check with your hotel about the current water supply situation in the coming days.
If you’re only planning a short one- or two-day trip, the impact may be limited. But for honeymoons or resort-style vacations, the stability of your accommodation’s water supply is now worth factoring into your choice of hotel.
🏝️ Nusa Penida’s Peak Season Hotels Aren’t Full! Industry Insiders Ask, ‘Where Have All the Tourists Gone?’
Nusa Penida is currently facing an interesting phenomenon:
There are plenty of tourists at the attractions, but hotel occupancy rates are low.
Even during the peak tourist season, some hotels in Nusa Penida are still seeing low occupancy rates.
Local industry insiders believe one of the main reasons is that many tourists opt for day trips, taking a boat from Sanur in the morning and returning to mainland Bali in the afternoon or evening. As a result, far fewer people are actually staying overnight on Nusa Penida than expected.
This has actually been an ongoing issue in Nusa Penida.
Many people come here just for:
Kelingking Beach → Broken Beach → Angel’s Billabong → Diamond Beach
Rushing through it all in one day, then heading back to Bali to sleep.
But from a travel experience perspective, if you have two days, I’d actually recommend staying one night on Nusa Penida.
Not only do you avoid competing with day-trippers for time, but you can also skip the most crowded daytime hours.
Recommended Accommodations on Nusa Penida: 14 Highly-Rated Stays from Luxury to Budget
🏨 Anak Krakatau Volcanic Ash Affects Flights, but Bali Hotel Occupancy Still Holds at Around 80%
Although the eruption of Anak Krakatau has caused some flight cancellations or adjustments in Bali, there hasn’t been a massive wave of cancellations in Bali’s tourism accommodation market.
The Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI Bali) reports that the average hotel occupancy rate across the island remains around 80%, with some hotels even exceeding this figure.
This is a noteworthy statistic.
Because the main impact has been on:
Routes between Bali ↔ Jakarta, Bandung, and others
rather than a full closure of Bali’s airport.
Ngurah Rai International Airport is still operating, with both international and domestic flights continuing, though flight adjustments may vary depending on the airline and volcanic ash conditions.
So if you’re planning a trip to Bali soon, it’s more accurate to say the airport isn’t closed.
Instead: Bali’s airport is operating normally, but some flights are affected by volcanic ash.
🚨 12 Foreign Nationals Deported from Bali in 10 Days! Overstaying Visas Remains a Major Issue
Bali’s immigration office has announced the latest enforcement results:
Between August 26 and September 4, a total of 12 foreigners were deported.
Violations included overstaying visas and using residence permits that did not match actual activities. These cases were uncovered by the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office through routine inspections and immigration monitoring.
This is another sign of the ongoing tightening of immigration enforcement in Bali.
For regular travelers, the three most important things remain:
Check your visa validity, don’t overstay, and don’t use a tourist status to engage in unauthorized work.
Especially for foreigners living long-term in Bali, don’t assume that ‘just a few extra days won’t matter.’
In recent years, Bali has become significantly more proactive in enforcing rules against illegal stays and unauthorized work by foreigners.
🦟 Good News! Dengue Fever Cases in Bali Drop by 82.6%
Here’s some reassuring health news today.
According to the latest data compiled by Bali.live, Bali recorded 1,588 dengue fever cases from January to July 2026.
Compared to 9,116 cases during the same period last year, this marks a decrease of approximately 82.6%.
The number of fatalities has also dropped significantly: 13 deaths were reported throughout 2025, while only 2 have been recorded so far in 2026.
This is good news for travelers.
However, dengue fever hasn’t disappeared.
Bali remains a tropical region, so if you’re spending extended time outdoors—especially during early morning and late afternoon—it’s still advisable to take basic mosquito precautions.
Using mosquito repellent, wearing light long sleeves, and ensuring your accommodation is free of standing water can already significantly reduce the risk.
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