Bali, long known for its beaches and cultural charm, is now eyeing a bold new identity—this time at sea. The Indonesian government is reshaping Benoa Port into a world-class maritime tourism hub, aiming to place the island on the global map not just for land-based tourism but also for ocean-bound adventures.
The Bali Maritime Tourism Hub (BMTH), as it will be known, is being developed in Denpasar as Southeast Asia’s premier maritime gateway. According to Antoni Arif Priadi, Director General of Sea Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, Benoa will soon host Indonesia’s first internationally certified marina.
“Pelindo has prepared Benoa Port to become a Maritime Tourism Hub. The Bali Maritime Tourism Hub, or BMTH, is now operational, and cruise ships—specifically cruise passengers, not general passengers—have started arriving in large numbers. The facilities are already up to international standards,” Antoni said during the 2025 Indonesia Maritime Week at JCC Senayan Jakarta on Monday, May 26.
The ambitious transformation isn’t just cosmetic—it comes with real economic aspirations. The Bali Benoa Marina project is positioned to become a powerful catalyst for Bali’s blue economy, attracting international yachting communities and cruise operators alike.
The first phase of the marina is set to accommodate 18 yachts. Once the entire development is completed, it is expected to handle up to 240 yachts. The soft launch is targeted for October 2025, marking the start of Bali’s journey as a luxury yachting destination.
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Backing this transformation is a hefty investment. Around IDR 900 billion is being allocated for infrastructure development, while the full BMTH project—which includes land preparation, essential facilities, and dredging—will require about IDR 1.2 trillion. The project will be funded through a mix of State Capital Injection (PMN) and Pelindo’s investment, totaling an estimated IDR 1.6 trillion.
While Bali takes center stage, other parts of Indonesia are also undergoing strategic port developments. Makassar Port, for example, is being reimagined to strengthen its role as a logistics hub for Eastern Indonesia.
“For Makassar, logistics costs have been relatively high because goods from the east usually go through Jakarta or Surabaya before being exported,” Antoni noted. “We’re trying to develop Makassar since it already handles 2 million tons today.”
He explained that the goal is to enable direct exports from Makassar to major destinations like China. “This means goods destined for China and other countries no longer have to go through Jakarta—they can go directly from Eastern Indonesia to Makassar and then be shipped out. This will save a lot of time and significantly cut costs,” he added.
With Benoa paving the way for marine tourism and Makassar evolving as a strategic export gateway, Indonesia is clearly sailing toward a future where its ports are not just transit points—but global economic engines.
