The Indonesian government is taking steps to ease the pressure on South Bali, one of its most popular tourist hotspots, by launching a new tourism initiative called the 3B Tourism Package—Banyuwangi, West Bali, and North Bali. The goal is to divert 10% of both domestic and international tourists to these less frequented areas. However, one major obstacle threatens the success of this initiative: accessibility.
Currently, Banyuwangi has limited flight options, and both North and West Bali lack airports entirely. Tourists have no choice but to enter Bali through Denpasar. From there, reaching the northern and western regions requires traveling by regular roads, as there are no highways or rail-based transport options. This means visitors must often spend a lot of time on the road, which can detract from their overall travel experience.
Quoted from Travel Tempo, Nia Niscaya, a Senior Expert in Creative Economy and Tourism at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, highlighted the significance of improving accessibility in these regions. She explained that the government has developed a strategic plan to enhance connectivity and infrastructure for the 3B tourism package in three phases.
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In the short term, the government plans to operate a 24-hour ferry service between Ketapang in Banyuwangi and Gilimanuk in Bali. This will make the journey between Bali and Java much quicker and easier, offering a seamless travel experience for tourists.
As part of the medium-term plan, additional fast boats will be introduced to serve the route between Marina Boom Banyuwangi and Lovina in North Bali. These boats will operate twice a day and make stops at the Pemuteran village pier in Buleleng. This improvement aims to reduce the travel time from Banyuwangi to North Bali, which has long been a challenge for visitors interested in exploring the region.
For the long-term solution, the government is focusing on significantly enhancing the region’s connectivity. Plans include increasing the frequency of fast boat departures up to 10 times a day and constructing a Probolinggo-Banyuwangi toll road, along with a new toll road in Bali itself. These infrastructure projects are expected to be completed within the next few years, offering much-needed improvements that will make the 3B regions more accessible.
These measures are seen as vital for ensuring the success of the 3B tourism package, as the government aims to provide smoother access to encourage tourists to explore beyond the well-trodden paths of South Bali. By enhancing the travel experience, the initiative hopes to unlock the tourism potential of Banyuwangi, West Bali, and North Bali, relieving the burden on South Bali and showcasing the natural beauty and unique attractions of these lesser-known areas.
