The long awaited new Sanur Pier is ready for the grand reveal. The official opening of the new pier was announced on November 9th. Preparations for the event are underway throughout the week as Indonesian President Joko Widodo pays his respects.
The Sanur Fast Boat Association told reporters that the group was satisfied and excited that the new pier was up and running.
“The new Sanur Pier will open soon. So we are very happy to be in the association.” said Made Ariana, president of the Sanur Fast Boat Association.
Tourists No Longer Have to Pass Through The Shallow Waters
Source: Gili Islands Fast Boat
Ariana is also a fast boat operator and is happy that tourists no longer have to pass through and take a fast boat ride in the shallow waters of the Sunrise Beach.
Sanur fast boat service goes to Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan Lombok and Gili Islands. It is the starting point chosen by hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.
A new Sanur Pier is under construction and the future of the local economy will be strengthened by the new infrastructure. It has become more accessible for travelers taking fast boats to the best tourist islands of Bali and Lombok.
Now tourists can step off the pier and take a fast boat. Sanur’s problems have persisted for many years as fast boat operations adapt to regularly changing tides and weather conditions.
Fast boat operators often have to help get passengers onto the board during high tide or high waves, and may even move the departure point from Sunrise Beach to Le Herre Mayeur Beach when the tide is too high.
“They are all one-gate systems, so tourists don’t get wet again during high tides and big waves,” said Ariana.
Fast Boat Ticketing System Will Be Online
He confirmed that all of Sanur’s fast boat operators had completed commissioning using the pier and said the new system was 80% ready and is ready to go live by November 7, 2022.
Other changes in Sanur also affect the fast boat ticketing system. All tickets must now be purchased online in advance, but this is not entirely new. In recent years, the majority of travelers have opted to purchase their tickets online.
“All ticket sales will be handled online. Each passenger will then receive a boarding pass that can be scanned or checked by staff prior to boarding”, said Ariana.
The Project Received a Large Amount of Funding
The project lasted almost 3 years and received a large amount of funding. The project will start in 2020 with a budget of IDR 19 billion and by the end of 2021 IDR 100 billion has been spent.
In 2022, the total will reach IDR 150 billion by the time it goes public this week. In 2023, another IDR 87.79 billion will be spent on other developments. By the time the second phase is completed, Sanur Pier will house 26 of their fast boats.
All of these developments will streamline operations in Sanur, allowing more vessels to operate more regularly. This will bring more tourists to the offshore islands of Nusa and Gili for day trips and longer stays. This also will help diversify Bali’s tourism offerings and support more local community economics.
Bali Investing in Maritime Tourism
Bali is actively investing in maritime tourism and developing wharves and piers. The pier of Benoa is currently undergoing a multi-million dollar expansion to accommodate larger cruise ships. Cruise travel is officially back in Bali and last week he had two small cruises docked.
The ships from Australia and Norway, which only sail for a short one-day journey, are the first of many voyages set to reach Bali over the next 12 months.
The redevelopment of Benoa Harbor will become known as the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub. The development is partly funded by the Indonesian government and provided by the private company Pelindo.
The development includes a marina, yacht club, theme park, water sport facilities, and a much larger pier for international cruise ships and superyachts.
Also read: Gilis-Bali Fast Boat Canceled with Bangsal Transfer Trial
