2024 has been the most successful year for cruise travel in Bali. A total of 52 cruise ships visited the island, which is 4 more than in 2023. The number of foreign tourists brought to Bali by cruise ships in 2024 reached around 89,400 people (compared to 77,864 passengers on 48 ships in 2023). Benoa Harbor, located near Nusa Dua, is the largest seaport in Bali that receives cruise ships.
This area is now known as the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub (BMTH). The upgraded yacht pier is expected to bring a new wave of tourists arriving by sea. In 2025, the renovation of Benoa Harbor on Bali is set to be completed, transforming it into a world-class cruise and maritime tourism hub capable of accommodating even larger ships, along with the construction of a modern yacht marina.
The cruise dock has already been extended from 350 to 500 meters, allowing it to receive two ships simultaneously. With the fuel terminal moved north of Benoa Harbor, BMTH is expected to accommodate four to five cruise ships at once.
The marina includes 180 berths and will accommodate over 50 superyachts, typically over 90 meters in length. The first superyachts are expected to dock at BMTH in the second half of 2025.
The Bali Maritime Tourism Hub will boost the region’s economy and offer tourists more luxurious travel experiences. BMTH is anticipated to become Indonesia’s maritime tourism center, influencing the concept of the “butterfly route” cruise circuit in Indonesia, which includes ports like Tanjung Emas (Semarang, Central Java), Tanjung Perak (Surabaya, East Java), Gili Mas (Lombok), Labuan Bajo, Raja Ampat (West Papua), and others.
There is also a program called “Sail to Indonesia,” which not only promotes Bali as a global tourism destination but also positions it as a seafaring center. As part of this program, from October 2-4, 2024, around 50 luxury yachts from 11 countries docked at BMTH.
The longest cruise ship ever to dock at Benoa Harbor was the Celebrity Solstice, 317 meters long, in October 2023, carrying 2,814 passengers. Benoa Harbor not only disembarks foreign tourists but also embarks a large number of international travelers on the Celebrity Millennium cruise ship starting in 2024. A total of 2,081 foreign tourists disembarked from the 294-meter ship, while around 2,300 boarded it through this harbor.
Sources: antaranews.com
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