Bali’s Benoa Port is undergoing a transformation that government officials say will position it as Southeast Asia’s premium maritime hub—an anchor point for both international yachting and cruise tourism.
Antoni Arif Priadi, Director General of Sea Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, announced that the Bali Benoa Marina will be Indonesia’s first international-standard marina facility. The development, he said, is expected to catalyze economic growth by placing Bali firmly on the global map for marine tourism.
“Pelindo has prepared Benoa Port as a maritime tourism hub—Bali Maritime Tourism Hub, or BMTH,” Antoni said during Indonesia Maritime Week 2025 in Jakarta on 26 May. “It’s already operational, and we’re seeing more cruise ships arriving. The facilities now meet international standards.”
First Phase to Host 18 Yachts, Expansion to Accommodate 240
State-owned port operator Pelindo is targeting a soft launch of the new marina by October 2025. In its first phase, the marina will be able to accommodate up to 18 yachts. Upon full completion, capacity could rise to 240 vessels.
The total investment for the BMTH infrastructure is projected to reach Rp 1,2 trillion, with around Rp 900 billion earmarked for the initial infrastructure phase. The project is being financed through a combination of state capital injections and Pelindo’s own investment, amounting to roughly Rp 1,6 trillion.
Broader National Port Strategy in Play
The Benoa project is part of a wider maritime overhaul across the country. The government is rethinking the strategic function of other key ports, including Makassar, which is being developed into a logistics hub for Eastern Indonesia.
“Currently, goods from the east are often routed through Jakarta or Surabaya before being exported, which increases costs,” Antoni said. “Makassar already has a throughput of 2 million tons. If we can ship goods directly from Makassar to destinations like China, we cut both time and costs significantly.”
With Benoa’s upgrade and Makassar’s repositioning, Indonesia is looking to streamline its maritime infrastructure while boosting tourism and trade competitiveness in the region.
