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Aussies have been reassured there is no fuel crisis in Bali as some holidaymakers begin to panic about their upcoming trips to the holiday hotspot.
Several Australians have raised concerns about a possible shortage of fuel or an increase in prices due to the Middle East conflict.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has put pressure on global fuel supplies, with diesel reaching more than $3 a litre in Australia and more than 500 service stations suffering from petrol or fuel shortages in NSW and Victoria.
‘We are booked to fly to Bali in May for eight days from Sydney,’ one wrote on Facebook.
‘We’re starting to feel a little stressed with the fuel situation. Is everyone still booking to go as normal this year and hoping for the best?’
‘Just wondering if fuel is affecting Bali and if it’s difficult to get around?’ a second asked.
Indonesia has introduced energy-saving measures, such as work-home-home arrangements for civil servants, to take consumer pressure off fuel consumption.
Despite the restrictions, many Aussies already in Bali have revealed that it appears to be business as usual, with prices as low as $1 a litre.
Matt Cameron said people were much calmer at petrol stations there and confirmed prices were cheaper than in Australia
‘Just got back from two weeks in Bali and honestly, the world doesn’t seem to exist over there, so go and enjoy your holiday,’ one said.
‘Bali fuel is the cheapest one. It’s $1 for a litre at the moment,’ a second said.
‘We’re in Bali at the moment and there have been no issues at all. Come and enjoy your holiday,’ a third said.
‘I would not be worried at all. I’m going in April and I’m not stressed,’ another said.
‘Fuel isn’t affected in Bali and is still the same,’ a fifth said.
One Aussie said people were much calmer at petrol stations, unlike the panic buying scenes in Australia, and confirmed prices were cheaper.
‘Australian fuel prices are double that of Indonesia,’ Matt Cameron said.
‘There’s no rations and no people queueing up. It’s all calm.’
Several Australians have raised concerns about a possible shortage of fuel or an increase in prices due to the Middle East conflict
Amanda Micallef, founder of travel platform Bali Presto, alleviated fears.
‘At the moment, there are no reports of petrol shortage,’ she said.
‘Bali imports its refined fuel, but the government is currently subsidising petrol so prices are remaining quite steady.
‘If oil prices keep spiking though, then eventually fuel prices and potentially transportation costs will increase in Indonesia.’
The work-from-home arrangements in Indonesia began after the Eid al-Fitr national public holidays on March 24.
A significant amount of fuel was saved during Covid due to work-from-home, and Indonesian Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa expects similar results.
He said one day a week of working from home would ‘save about a fifth, or around 20 per cent, of fuel consumption’.
While those measures don’t affect Bali tourists yet, that may not be the case with flight costs.
Petrol prices in Bali are a lot cheaper than in Australia
With global oil prices rising and with airspace closures in cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association Bali, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, said tourists could see an increase in airfares.
If that eventuates, it could affect the number of visitors to Bali.
‘What I fear is a price war if tourism starts to decline,’ Mr Suryawijaya said.
‘However, we are still working to ensure Bali remains a prime destination for visitors.’
