The Indonesian Government has been praised for developing new fast-boat connections between ports in West Bali, North Bali, and East Java’s Banyuwangi.
The new routes are set to change the way in which domestic tourists from Java explore the province and the way in which international tourists explore the Bali and East Java region as a whole.
In the last month, the Indonesian Minister for Tourism and Creative Economies, Sandiaga Uno, launched a new tour package that connects tourists with West Bali, North Bali, and Banyuwangi as the gateway to East Java, known as the 3B Tour.
In a media interview, Minister Uno explained, “It offers rich attractions in terms of natural beauty and culture, supported by abundant culinary experiences. I am confident that the 3B tour package will be a hit, as Banyuwangi has complete tourism potential.”
West and North Bali are two of the island’s least visited and most beautiful regions. West Bali is home to the untouched West Bali National Park and the stunning villages of Sumberkima and Pemuteran.
North Bali is home to Lovina Beach and its resident pods of spinner dolphins. It is also the gateway to Munduk’s dense tropical forests and magical waterfalls.
Tourists often overlook these regions of Bali for a number of reasons. Firstly, not many international tourists are aware of these destinations outside of popular resorts in the south, like Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Canggu, and Uluwatu, to name but a few.
The second most significant reason these areas are visited less frequently is because of connectivity. For all the complaints about congestion in the central south of Bali, connectivity is fairly straightforward.
There is a huge provision of taxi services, and there are direct roads connecting top resort areas.
Further north and to the west, however, connectivity is a little more challenging, and this is something the Ministry of Tourism has set out to change.
Minister Uno has long wanted to promote North and West Bali and East Java as a combined destination. With East Java accessible by a short boat ride, it should be far easier than it has been to hop across the Bali Strait to explore stunning designations like Mount Ijen.
Though there are hourly ferry services between Gilimanuk and Banyuwangi, accessing information about crossing times and buying tickers has often been tricky for independent tourists, and the quality of the ferries has been noted to be poor.
This is why the launch of the 3B Tour will be supported by the development of fast boat services between Banyuwangi, Gilimanuk, and Lovina, with a route to Pemuteran on the cards too. These fast boat services will be similar to the transfer services offered by Sanur, Padangbai, and the Nusa and Gili Islands.
The 3B Tour initiative has been praised by the Vice President of the Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, who told reporters that the tour will help boost tourism in the region in a really positive way.
Suryawijaya cautioned that the development of new tourism initiatives in these areas must be managed with great intention, especially when it comes to the movement of tourists.
He explains, “We will test tour packages, namely from Watu Dodol, Bangsring, Pemuteran, and Lovina via sea route with fast boat.” Watu Dodol and Bangsring are both popular destinations for domestic tourists along the Banyuwangi coast in East Java.
The 3B tour packages and the suggested itinerary route are anticipated to see 500,000 – 700,000 tourists in the next two years. The focus on West and North Bali comes as part of a concerted effort from tourism leaders to promote less crowded destinations for tourists, in turn creating huge benefits for tourists and local communities and helping to mitigate over tourism in the south.
The national tourism board, Wonderful Indonesia, just released a new list of suggested destinations that are free from crowds in Bali.
The Ministry of Tourism has also announced that it will be launching a new digital tourism information center by the end of the month to help tourists plan vacations and travel adventures that are culturally respectful, sustainable and filled with authentic connection to Bali and beyond.
Remove All Ads & Unlock All Articles… Sign up for The Bali Sun Premium
Plan Your Bali Holiday:
Book The Best English Speaking Drivers For Airport Transfers & Tours
Choose From Thousands of Bali Hotels, Resorts, and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties
Book Cheap Flights To Bali
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance That Covers Medical Expenses In Bali
For the latest Bali News & Debate Join our Facebook Community
SUBSCRIBE TO NEW POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to The Bali Sun’s latest breaking news, straight to your inbox.