A Bumper-to-Bumper Crop of Tourists

Government Survey of Tourists in Bali Show’s Widespread Dissatisfaction with Traffic Conditions
A survey carried out by Bali’s Provincial Tourism Authority in 2012 identified traffic congestion as a major complaint made by international holidaymakers coming to the Island.

As reported by Bali Daily (The Jakarta Post), survey respondents urged urgent action be taken to address widespread traffic problems in Bali.
According to the head of the Bali Tourism Authority (Kadisparda), Ida Bagus Subhisku, the survey sought feedback from 1,000 respondents on matters ranging from traffic, customs, accommodation, restaurants, transportation, taxis and cleanliness.

A worrying 57% of those responding provided negative reviews of traffic conditions. Survey participants were approached at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport during the departure process at the end of a holiday spent on Bali. Subhisku characterized the negative feedback on traffic as “understandable” – especially those traveling in South Bali where the airport is located.

The Tourism chief was quick to point out that traffic perceptions were no doubt influenced by the massive infrastructure projects underway that, when completed, will help alleviate much of the problem.

Bali is in the finishing phases of a major expansion of the airport, the construction of a underpass at the Simpang Siur intersection in Kuta and the Benoa-Ngurah Rai-Nusa Dua toll way. And, while the infrastructure improvements will do much to help ease Bali’s traffic congestion, they should not be seen as a panacea to the Island’s traffic woes. Serious traffic congestion will persist in the capital city of Denpasar and central Kuta, while horrific and frequent accidents along the Denpasar-Gilimanuk highway will also continue to occur.

Badung Regent AA Gde Agung blamed traffic problems on illegal parking and asked local businesses in Kuta not to park on sidewalks. Yet, street side parking persists despite the availability of off-street parking. Agung is promising to create no-parking areas in Kuta.

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