New Water Taxi Service Links Bali Ngurah Rai Airport to Nusa Penida

Bali, VIVA – Bali, a world-renowned tourist destination, has been experiencing a surge in both domestic and international visitors.

This influx has led to severe traffic congestion at various points on the island.

In an effort to handle this issue, both the central and local governments have been working to improve transportation infrastructure. One such initiative involves the introduction of water taxi services.

Indonesian Transportation Minister, Dudy Purwagandhi has suggested that water taxis could provide a more convenient alternative for tourists, especially those traveling to popular destinations like Sanur, Seminyak, Kuta, and Nusa Penida.

By departing directly from Ngurah Rai International Airport, tourists could bypass land-based transportation and reduce their journey time.

“This route is shorter than the current method where tourists have to travel to Sanur harbor to take a speedboat to Nusa Penida,” Minister Purwaghandi stated in an Instagram post.

Consequently, the minister has tasked the Directorate General of Sea Transportation with conducting a feasibility study for water taxi services connecting Ngurah Rai Airport to Sanur, Seminyak, Kuta, and Nusa Penida.

Previously, Giri Prasta, the deputy governor-elect of Bali, proposed the construction of a maritime toll road as another solution to the island's traffic woes.

This concept involves the use of dedicated vessels to transport tourists directly to their hotels or other destinations.

"This will help to alleviate traffic congestion, particularly in southern Bali," Prasta said last Friday.

To facilitate this service, the government plans to build several stops or terminals along the route. Tourists would then be transferred to smaller vessels for the final leg of their journey.

Prasta emphasized that expanding existing roads is not a practical solution to traffic congestion and that constructing shortcuts is a more effective approach.

"We're working with third-party partners to procure the necessary vessels, and we aim to commence operations in January or February," Prasta added.

The government will collaborate with the Bali Penida River Basin Center to implement this maritime toll road project.

"Initially, we will focus on routes connecting the airport to Canggu and Nusa Dua," he explained.

Prior to this initiative, some tourists have already been using traditional fishing boats (jukungs) for transportation between Canggu and Uluwatu, specifically to Padang Padang Beach.

A ticketing company called Go Boat has been offering ferry services between various tourist attractions in Bali.

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7 Januari 2025