Tourist Numbers at Sanur Port Decline 23 Per Cent
Tourist passenger numbers at Sanur Port in Denpasar have declined significantly compared to the previous year. Warsita, Head of the Port Authority’s Regional Office (KSOP) Class II Benoa at Sanur Port, revealed that international political dynamics, particularly the US-Israel conflict with Iran, have had an impact. Meanwhile, the Eid holiday period was deemed to have minimal effect.
“Since this is not an Eid holiday transport route but rather tourism transport to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, combined with the influence of international politics, passenger numbers have also declined,” said Warsita on Monday, 16 March 2026.
Current data shows a significant decline compared to the previous year. During the period 13–16 March 2025, the number of boarding passengers at Sanur Port was recorded at 14,809 people. During the same period this year, this dropped to 11,405 passengers, a 23 per cent decline. Disembarking passengers in 2025 numbered 13,042 people, declining sharply by 24.9 per cent in 2026 to 9,796 people.
Sanur Port itself suspended operations from Thursday, 19 March 2026 to Friday, 20 March 2026. “During Nyepi the port is closed and will reopen on the 20th,” Warsita explained.
Pelni Denpasar Redirects Two Vessels to Java
The Eid holiday period has also had minimal impact on PT Pelni’s (Indonesia’s National Shipping Company) ferry operations at Benoa Port. Pelni is now redirecting two vessels to Java to support the Java-Kalimantan shipping route due to higher demand. Meanwhile, the remaining three vessels continue to operate, including KM Awu, KM Binaiya, and KM Tilongkabila.
These three vessels serve numerous routes to eastern Indonesian regions, such as Bima, Labuan Bajo, Kupang, and Makassar.
“We have been doing this for several years. Passenger flow for our Eid transport services is not high in the Denpasar region,” said Arfah Yusuf, Head of Pelni’s Denpasar Branch, when interviewed on Monday, 16 March 2026.
Yusuf noted that compared to the previous year, this year’s Eid transport has increased slightly. “But not more than five per cent. So if we call it an increase, it is not significant,” he added.
Yusuf explained that Pelni’s Denpasar Branch opened an Eid Transport Post Office for 30 days from 6 March to 6 April. Peak passenger flow is expected at tomorrow’s departure, Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
“For tomorrow morning’s departure at 6 o’clock with KM Tilongkabila, we have already sold 827 tickets. The vessel will arrive this evening at 5 p.m. Bali time. And we are still selling tickets; we may touch 1,000,” explained Yusuf.
Further information indicated that the most common destination for passengers from Benoa Port is Bima. “Tomorrow there are 575 people to Bima, which is just over 50 per cent. For the purpose of Eid holidays—actually, our peak season is in June and July,” said Yusuf.
In preparation for the 2026 Nyepi and Eid al-Fitr celebrations, Pelni’s Denpasar Branch will suspend shipping and close physical ticket counters from 18 to 20 March.
“We are implementing route adjustments. So from 18–20 there will be no vessels entering. And we will reopen on the 21st. Our ticket counters will be closed, but we will maximise online ticket sales through channels like Pelni Mobile, the Pelni website, and other platforms,” Yusuf explained.
Below is a list of the three Pelni vessel routes at Benoa Port:
KM Binaiya: Serves the Benoa – Bima – Labuan Bajo – Makassar – Parepare – Bontang (return) route or towards the east such as Waingapu and Kupang.
KM Awu: Serves routes towards East Nusa Tenggara.
KM Tilongkabila: Serves routes from Bali to the Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara regions.