Middle East Conflict Hits Indonesia, 377 Flights Cancelled
The escalating conflict in the Middle East is beginning to have a direct impact on Indonesia’s tourism sector. The Ministry of Tourism has recorded 377 cancelled flights from the region, preventing around 50,000 passengers from arriving in Indonesia.
“We have recorded that several flights from the Middle East have been cancelled, around 377 flights cancelled. So there are about 50,000 passengers who cannot come to Indonesia; this is not only to Bali but to other destinations like Jakarta,” said Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana during a working visit to Bali Safari & Marine Park on Wednesday (25/3/2026).
Putri stated that the Ministry of Tourism is still assessing the further impacts of the conflict, whether they are temporary or long-term, which could potentially affect Indonesia’s tourism sector.
She also highlighted that several countries are starting to implement work from home as a fuel-saving measure, in line with potential energy supply disruptions due to the Middle East conflict.
“Indonesia is considering one day of work from home for the private sector and civil servants, so that in the regions and at the centre, fuel is not used too much,” she explained.
Amid these pressures, Putri emphasised that Indonesia, particularly Bali, remains a safe and popular tourist destination.
This is reflected in a 3.5 per cent increase in visits during the long Eid holiday, from both domestic and international tourists. Additionally, Bali has received the The Best Destination 2026 award from TripAdvisor.
“So Bali’s image remains intact, and of course we know that Bali or Indonesia is a safe destination amid all the turmoil in the Middle East; this is certainly an attractive and safe destination,” she said.
To anticipate further impacts, the Ministry of Tourism is preparing several strategies, from increasing connectivity with neighbouring countries, strengthening promotions through various events, to increasing direct flights to Europe.
On the other hand, the Head of the Bali Tourism Office, I Wayan Sumarajaya, assessed that the impact of the conflict on Bali’s tourism is still limited.
This is because the Middle East market is not among the top five international tourists visiting the Island of the Gods. Currently, international tourist visits are dominated by Australia, India, China, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
“Fortunately, in Bali, our top five international tourists do not include any from the Middle East, so the influence is not so significant for now; we are also anticipating this,” he concluded.