New East Bali Port Set To Help Improve Connectivity To Islands For Tourists 

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Leaders in Bali are seeking to develop a new port to help better connect tourists from Bali to Nusa Penida to Gili Trawangan.

The trio of top tourist destinations is being referred to as Indonesia’s Golden Triangle, and there are hopes that a new port will boost tourism and the local economy. 

The Karangsem Regency Government has confirmed that it is persisting with plans to build a new port in Amed. The quaint East Bali fishing village is a well-established destination in its own right, attracting a diverse range of tourists, though it is most popular with marine enthusiasts.

Karangasem Regency is already home to one of Bali’s biggest ports, Padangbai. The addition of a port connecting East Bali to the Central South, the Nusa Islands, and West Nusa Tenggara Province.

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The Deputy Regent of Karangasem, Pandu Prapanca Lagosa, has revealed more details to the media about plans to develop a new port in the Amed area to first and foremost shorten the travel time between East Bali and the Central South. He explained, “Currently, the trip from Sanur to Karangasem takes two to three hours. With this pair, access will be much faster and more efficient.”

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Deputy Regent Lagosa shared that “This will accelerate the transformation of tourism in Karangasem and open up new routes that integrate leading tourism destinations in the lava land.” He added, “The province had already prepared the planning. The Amed location is very promising and has extraordinary prospects. Hopefully, tourism in Karangasem will continue to thrive in the future thanks to this golden triangle port.”

The prospective port development in Amed complements the newly established luxury yacht marina in Benoa, with plans to open a second port in Sanur in the long term as well. Over the last five years, Benoa has undergone a huge redevelopment and has been transformed into the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub.

The port is now home to a luxury yacht marina that features 140 berths. The project is scheduled to be fully operational in 2028, with 2025 marking a significant milestone for the project.

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In addition to the luxury yacht marine, development at Benoa now means that the harbour can welcome up to three jumbo cruise ships at a time, making it one of the most accommodating harbours in Southeast Asia.

Over the next three years, the redevelopment will welcome the construction of more hotels, restaurants, and shops. 

In mid-2024, leaders in Sanur announced plans to create a second harbor in the future. As demand for travel in Bali surges, many believe that the island has no choice but to upgrade its infrastructure. Sanur is one of the busiest ports in Indonesia, attracting thousands of tourists daily.

Although Padangbai Port offers a wide range of fast boat options to the Nusa Islands, the Gili Islands, and Lombok, due to its central location close to other top tourist resorts, Sanur is the departure point of choice for the majority of tourists heading out to Bali’s neighbouring islands. 

The prospect of a new addition to the port in Sanur comes as the island’s oldest tourism resort has also undergone a massive redevelopment over the last five years. Sanur is now Indonesia’s Special Economic Zone for Health, Medical, and Wellness Tourism and is home to the Bali International Hospital. 

Speaking to the media at the time of the announcement, the Mayor of Denpasar, I Gusti Ngurah Jaya Negara, revealed that the new port will be created by splitting elements of the existing Sanur Port into two and expanding upon them each. The port would then be spread across Matahari Terbit Beach and Mertasari Beach.

The Mayor stated publicly that the separation of Sanur Port could be achieved if the Ministry of Transportation hands over the authority of the port to the Denpasar City Government.

He shared, “People who want their trip one day, for example, they want to cross in the morning, can later be divided into two crossing locations. So it doesn’t pile up in one place.”