Bali Tourist Speed Boat Providers Instructed To Prioritize Safety

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Fast boat operators in Bali are being urged to adhere to standard operating procedures and safety protocols across all aspects of operations.

The instructions come as tourists, travel agents, and tourism stakeholders are increasingly concerned about the quality of services provided for tourists traveling between mainland Bali, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, and the Gili Islands.

Over the last 12 months, calls for operators, tourism stakeholders, and the local government in the Nusa Islands to improve public safety measures have been rising.

Just last week, during a local government budget meeting, the Acting Regency of Klungkung, who is responsible for the Nusa Islands, was called out by fellow elected officials for inaction over bringing tourism leaders together to create standard operating procedures and safety protocols. 

@lisannekoning

over de titanic gesproken 😨⛵️ Fastboat in Bali naar Nusa Lembongan…🌊💦 wat was dit eng😂

♬ Titanic flute fail – kate dwyer

The Nusa Penida Police Samapta Unit, Klungkung, led by Aipda I Kadek Agus Sujasna, has visited the ports of Nusa Penida to appeal directly to boat operators to conduct regular safety checks, be more vigilant about operating protocols, and go above and beyond to mitigate risks to public safety. 

Over the years, there have been serious concerns over the quality of fast boat services operating between Bali’s main island and the Nusa Islands.

Many tourists have complained of overcrowded boats, boats operated recklessly during dangerous sea conditions, lack of sufficient safety equipment, and more.

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Following the visit, Susjana told reporters he had called port staff to “Always check the boat safety equipment so that it can ensure the safety and comfort of the boat passengers.”

He also called on the public to be proactive in reporting any issues they may see or experience while in the port area or traveling by boat. Susjana also wants to see more supervision of the loading and unloading of goods in the dock too. 

He explained, “This activity really needs to be carried out so that crossing service users feel safe and comfortable carrying out loading and unloading activities at the port.”

Susjana also confirmed that the Nusa Penida Police Chief Kompol Ida Bagus Putra Sumerta had assigned more security personnel to the Sampalan Port to increase the level of safety for tourists, port workers, and the wider community. 

@amiebolton5 This boat ride is not for the faint hearted🤒 anyone who’s experienced it with bad weather HOW are you alive😭 #nusapenida #bali #fastboatbali #solotravel #fyp #foryou #balitravel ♬ original sound – Amie Bolton

Nusa Penida is soaring in popularity in 2024, with the island set to welcome a record number of visitors by the end of December.

The Head of Klungkung Tourism, Ni Made Sulistiawati, explained to reporters that in May 2024, visits reached 114,503 tourists, June 102,983 tourists, July 108,272 tourists, and until August 10th, 2024, it reached 44,479 tourists; each month, nearly double the arrivals than in the same period in 2023.

She explained that in July 2023, for example, Nusa Penida welcomed a comparatively small 65,000 tourists to the island.

With tourism booming in Nusa Penida and the number of reported accidents and callouts to search and rescue teams, many feel that now is the moment to implement stricter health and safety protocols across tourism services in Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan.

As the island experiences rapid tourism growth, so too must the supporting infrastructure and systems. 

This is an issue all too familiar to local politicians who have been calling for health and safety programs to be created and implemented as soon as possible, though feedback from the Klungkung Regency Government suggests new industry and island-wide standards could be a way off yet. 

During a Klungkung Regency leadership during an annual budget meeting held earlier this month, local representative Nyoman Mujana asked the government, “Our question is the same as the previous year: to what extent has the regional government made efforts to anticipate accidents and prevent violations from tourism actors in Nusa Penida early?”

“What are the forms of security, security standards, regulations, and monitoring?”

In response, the Acting Regent of Klungkung, Nyoman Jendrika, acknowledged that local leadership must bring together tourism stakeholders, land owners, business owners, and the local community to create new safety legislation and new partnerships.