Access To Lombok For Bali Tourists Increasingly Easy And Affordable 

Share The Article

It is now easier than ever to travel between Bali and Lombok.

As two of Indonesia’s most in-demand travel destinations, improved connectivity between the two islands is welcome news to tourists seeking to add a little extra adventure to their vacation and explore more of what the archipelago has to offer. 

A new direct fast boat route has opened up between Bali’s Padangbai Port and Lombok’s Senggigi Harbour.

Padangbai Port is located in East Bali and is often overlooked by tourists who opt for the closer and sometimes more convenient Sanur Harbor to cross to Lombok.

Senggigi Harbor sits just north of the capital of Lombok, Mataram, and offers easier access to Lombok’s Kuta Beach than Bangsal Harbour, where most fast boats come in to dock.

Senggigi Beach itself is a destination in its own right, boasting pristine white sands and backed by green tropical jungle. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lombok Paradise (@lombokparadisereels)

The opening of the new pier and accompanying routes at Senggigi Harbour in Lombok has been welcome news for tourism leaders in the area.  General Manager of Aruna Senggigi Resort & Convention, Yeyen Heryawan, told reporters that the impacts are already being felt by hotels and tour operators in the region.

He explained, “There are one or two tourists from Bali staying in Lombok, especially in Senggigi, and this certainly makes things easier for them. Guests wanting to go to Bali no longer need to go to Bangsal because now they can go directly from Senggigi, which is closer and more affordable.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Desi is Foedsie! Travel & Food (@foedsie)

Heryawan shared his hopes that this will be the start of even more connectivity between Bali and Lombok, bringing more tourists to both destinations. He shared, “Hopefully, the number of ships can be increased in the future. The key is to have continuity between businesses and the government so that the program to revive Senggigi can run smoothly.”

Heryawan wants to see more tourists connecting with Lombok’s culture, as well as its natural wonders. Bali is a destination synonymous with cultural tourism, but Lombok has just as much to offer. In fact, the cultures of both islands offer tourists a lot to compare and contrast.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Muhammad Reza Alfarizi (@reza.alfrizi)

He added, “We need to showcase local culture so tourists feel at home in Senggigi, not just a transit destination. We also need to add events and align them with the West Lombok calendar.”

Ultimately, local tourism leaders like Heryawan want to see increased bookings and improved connectivity as one of the most impactful ways to achieve this in the short and long term.

He explained, “With the fast boat service from Bali, this can increase the number of event participants and increase visitor numbers, which will automatically impact hotel occupancy.”

With fast boats and even speed boat options now available to tourists at increasingly competitive prices, traveling by sea is becoming even more appealing than the popular hopper flight to Lombok from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali.

He noted, “If you take a boat, it’s still quite good, more economical, so tourists can travel without a heavy burden.”

Heryawan told reporters that tourists can expect that the developments at Senggigi Harbour will quickly result in more investment in the area.

He noted, “Don’t just stop at the harbor. Areas like Pasir Putih also need improvement, and we also hope that Aruna Beach Club can reopen to welcome tourists.”

Adding “We must provide tourists with options, as Aruna is ready to welcome them, both in terms of hotels and food and beverage offerings, while still highlighting local culture as the main attraction.”

Lombok is one of Indonesia’s Super Priority Destinations, specifically Mandalika. The other four destinations are Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Likupang in North Sulawesi, and Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara.

Over the coming years, tourists planning a trip to Bali will see more promotion of these five destinations, with Lombok becoming increasingly accessible, hotspots like Senggigi and Mandalika quickly becoming an irresistible add-on destination to a dreamy Bali vacation.