Bali Experienced Widespread Power Outage, Following Recent Disruptions at Airports Across Spain, Portugal, France, and Belgium, Highlighting Vulnerabilities in Global Travel Infrastructure.
On May 2, the Indonesian island of Bali—renowned for its tourism—was severely impacted by a major power outage that brought large parts of the province to a halt. The disruption occurred around 4 p.m. local time (9 a.m. BST) and came just days after similar large-scale outages disrupted airports in Spain, Portugal, France, and Belgium.
Authorities traced the blackout to technical issues involving undersea cables that connect Bali to Java, the country’s main island. The incident reportedly began at the Celukan Bawang PLTU Unit #2, which triggered widespread power failures across the region.
After the recent wave of power outages, a flood of insurance claims emerged as affected travelers sought compensation for disrupted plans. The European airport blackout not only created a logistical nightmare but also led to a spike in disputes over travel reimbursements. Many passengers faced canceled flights and lengthy delays, pushing them into the often-complicated process of filing insurance claims.
Similarly, Bali’s blackout on May 2 has underscored the crucial role electricity plays in supporting tourism and hospitality. The incident mirrors the situation in Europe, where the airport outages highlighted the urgent need to strengthen infrastructure resilience in economies heavily dependent on travel and tourism.
The recent blackout in Bali, along with the large-scale power outages at major airports across Europe, has revealed serious vulnerabilities in the global travel infrastructure. In Bali, the heavy reliance on consistent electricity to power hotels, local utilities, and tourism services has become unmistakably clear. Meanwhile, even Europe’s advanced airport systems have shown they are not immune to major electrical failures.
As the travel and tourism industry steadily recovers from the pandemic, these incidents are likely to prompt a reassessment of emergency preparedness and infrastructure resilience. Bali, in particular, may face continued challenges in the days ahead as it works to restore services and rebuild traveler confidence.
Ultimately, the blackout serves as a sharp reminder of how fragile and interconnected the global travel ecosystem has become. With both Bali and several European countries grappling with recent disruptions, the need for stronger safeguards and more robust infrastructure has never been more apparent.
