Jakarta: State-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I has confirmed Ngurah Rai International Airport will halt operations for 24 hours on March 7 to observe Nyepi or Hindu Day of Silence.
Nyepi is a Hindu celebration in the island of Bali. It is also a public holiday in Indonesia.
Nyepi is the Hindu New Year in the Balinese lunar calendar. It is a day of silence, fasting and meditation for the Balinese people.
"We are ready to temporarily close the airport. We are committed to respect Hindu people in Bali," PT Angkasa Pura I spokesperson Arie Ashanurrohim told the press on Thursday.
"It will be closed at 06:00 a.m local time on March 7. It will be reopened at 06:00 a.m local time on March 8," the official added.
He said that the closure will affect 468 international and domestic flights. He ensured that operations will be back to normal on the next day.
Located 13 km south of Denpasar, Ngurah Rai International Airport is the largest airport in the island of Bali. Named after Balinese hero I Gusti Ngurah Rai, the airpport is the second busiest airport in Indonesia.
"On the D-Day, 369 personnel will guard the airport. Besides that, police and military will also help secure the airport," Arie said.
"The Ngurah Rai Police will deploy around 30 personnel. The Air Force will deploy around 35 personnel," he added.
Indonesia recorded 15.8 million foreign tourist arrivals throughout 2018. The number increased by 12.58 percent compared to the previous year.
The country welcomed 1.41 million foreign tourist arrivals in December 2018. It increased by 21.43 percent compared to the previous month.
The room occupancy rate (TPK) of star classification hotels in Indonesia reached an average of 59.75 percent in December 2018. It decreased by 0.44 percentage point compared to the previous month.
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