Introducing Indonesia’s Bali Gapura Marina

For years, Indonesia watched as the world’s superyachts passed by its islands, full of potential yet held back by slow bureaucracy. That is about to change. PT Pelabuhan Indonesia leads a national strategic project to place the country on the global superyacht route. In partnership with Marina Development Indonesia, the project begins with Bali’s first full-service international-standard marina, named Bali Gapura Marina. With the Ministry of Tourism pushing regulatory reform, Indonesia is finally moving from the sidelines to the centre of maritime tourism.

With an enormous population of some 280 million people spread across 17,000 islands, one might have expected Indonesia to be among the regional or even world leaders in boating, yachting and recreational marine infrastructure. Further evidenced by the 13.9 million international tourists that visited Indonesia in 2024, there is no shortage of stunning locations, fun activities and unique experiences to enjoy.

And yet, the world’s largest archipelagic nation currently has only a handful of recreational marinas. Two of these are located either on or near Batam Island, just across the water from Singapore; one is the capital city, Jakarta, and three more are located in Bali, Lombok and West Papua. 

However, many of these marinas are small and cannot accommodate the ever-increasing size of yachts and superyachts taking to the seas the world over. The current Benoa Marina in Bali can accommodate only up to 25 yachts, leaving a vast and highly lucrative market thus far untapped. With a lack of government enthusiasm and the sector closed to private investment, Indonesia’s maritime infrastructure has been severely limited, given its vast size and long coastline.

This is now changing at breakneck speed.

‍National strategic project

Long renowned as a popular international tourist destination and centrally located in the Indonesian archipelago, Bali has always been a logical place for the country’s first full-service yacht marina. The idea of a brand new marina in Bali began as early as 1994 and although some progress was made in land reclamation on Serangan Island, work was halted only a few years later due to economic and political crisis.

In December 2012, the then-Governor of Bali Mangku Pastika gave the state company PT Tirta Wahana Bali International permission to reclaim Benoa Bay and transform it into a huge international tourism hub, featuring hotels, theme parks, a golf course and a marina. However, this project stalled again in 2018 after the company’s location permit expired amid considerable local opposition.

In September 2024, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia signed a 50-year concession agreement with PT Marina Development Indonesia (MDI) to invest in, build and operate Bali’s first full-service marina. In early 2025, the Indonesian government declared the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub as a national strategic project under the Ministry of Tourism. 

With dual backing from PT Pelabuhan Indonesia and the national government, Marina Development Indonesia is preparing to position the country as a key destination on the global superyacht route. Furthermore, President Director of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia, Arief Suhartono, emphasised that the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub is not only envisioned to be Indonesia’s first full-service international-standard marina, but also, one day, the largest marina in Southeast Asia, to be launched in carefully planned phases.

“To support this project and our vision of putting Indonesia on the global superyachting map, we are working alongside seven government ministries and organisations,” said Fitri Tresnawida, Board Commissioner of MDI. “After we signed the agreement, everyone at MDI understood that time had become critical. We must move quickly, but without sacrificing quality. Progress had stalled for years and, learning from those who came before us, we realised that collaboration between national and local authorities, the private sector and international partners is not optional. It is essential.”

The speed at which MDI is delivering this project, once and for all, is remarkable. Having broken ground on 22 May 2025, the first floating concrete pontoons were installed at Dock B less than a month later, on 21 June. Dock B will consist of 11 pontoons accommodating 48 berths. This will be the first part of the marina to open for commercial use, with a government-mandated trial period scheduled to begin on 26 November 2025.

“We could not afford trial and error,” said Ulf Backlund, President Director of MDI. “Our timeline is strict and we must hit each milestone with precision for both the government and our investors. That is why we chose only vendors with the strongest track records. From the beginning, we worked with SF Marina, Plus Marine and Boat Lift.”

‍A name with cultural significance

The original name for the new site - Bali Benoa Marina - did not quite fit the project's vision, however. Being far too similar in name to Bali’s current, smaller and simpler marina led the project leaders to brainstorm a newer, fresher name that better reflected the importance of this new development for Indonesia and honoured the island’s unique cultural heritage.

The new official name for the marina - Bali Gapura Marina - was announced at a press conference in Monaco on 23 September 2025, the day before the opening of the Monaco Yacht Show. Meaning “gateway” in Balinese, Gapura was chosen for its symbolism, representing everything that greater recreational yachting will bring to Bali and Indonesia, as well as for its ease of pronunciation for foreigners. According to Joseph Prabantara, co-founder of MDI, the name will both resonate with the local population and provide a “sense of place” internationally.

The Indonesian Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said that the name “reflects how every yacht and boat is welcomed at Bali Gapura Marina, crossing from water to land as part of a cultural journey. It also reinforces Indonesia's commitment to placing maritime journeys at the core of national strategic projects, uniting cultural heritage with forward-looking economic priorities.”

Authentic architecture is placed at the centre of the marina and waterfront design, with rules from local authorities ensuring that Bali’s calm aesthetic and spiritual atmosphere are protected. Buildings must follow traditional guidelines concerning their orientation with sunrise and sunset, and the way water flows through the site.

The master plan also applies the Balinese philosophy of Sad Kerthi, the six principles of balance that shape how people live with nature, community and the spiritual world. These principles, which honour the sea, the land, the air, human relationships, ancestors and the soul, guide the overall design. They influence not only how the marina is laid out, but also how it connects with its environment, ensuring development grows in step with Balinese culture and tradition.

“We work closely with our Balinese spiritual advisor, Ir. Wayan Kestawan, alongside the architecture and interior design team,” said Prabantara. “At every milestone, before we take any step on land and water, we hold a blessing ceremony. In Bali, even hospitality staff are required to wear traditional clothing every Thursday under a governor’s decree to protect local culture. We respect this and incorporate it into our marina operations day to day. These details may seem small, but they are in fact a powerful part of what shapes how we work.”

‍International collaboration for local communities

Despite Indonesia’s massive population, enormous coastline and huge potential for recreational boating, there is a lack of specialist knowledge in marina and waterfront development and management. For this reason, the governments of Bali and Indonesia have stressed the importance of international knowledge transfer in the Bali Gapura project. MDI has answered this by committing to hiring up to six local people for each international specialist. 300 people are expected to benefit from immediate employment at the marina, with 1,500 to be indirectly employed.

“Knowledge transfer and skill development form a core part of our hiring strategy,” said Tresnawida. “We expect every foreign expert or specialist we hire to mentor a local successor who can one day take over their role. In our future pipeline, we are also setting up a yachting school so that local people can earn proper certification to work on yachts, because without the right training, they cannot meet international safety and service standards.”

Over a decade ago, the early stages of the marina project drew controversy as some local communities opposed the development. Many feared they would be left out of future income opportunities since most relied on fishing and farming at the time. To address these concerns, Marina Development Indonesia has launched roadshows in the villages most directly affected by the project, managed by the professional recruitment firm REDY. The aim is to provide residents with a clear pathway to jobs and stable incomes at the marina. These communities will be the first to receive visits and their residents will have priority to apply for positions ranging from hospitality and deckhand roles to waste management, with opportunities for long-term career development.

Trash is one of Bali’s most pressing challenges and, as a major tourist destination, the island has long struggled with plastic waste. Bali Gapura Marina is addressing the issue head-on, positioning itself as a driver for cleaner beaches and oceans. “This problem is costly, but we must face it,” said Backlund. “That is why we hired award-winning local entrepreneur Dian Kurniawati to work with our master plan architects, contractors and stakeholders on waste management policy. She is helping us design and implement a system that embeds sustainability into Bali Gapura Marina from the very beginning, ensuring it is part of the foundation rather than an afterthought.”

‍New horizons for Indonesia

The Bali Gapura Marina project represents an exciting new beginning for Indonesia’s already vibrant and extensive tourism industry. “It cannot just be Bali,” emphasised Prabantara. “We are the largest archipelago in the world.” 

With MDI planning to build several brand-new marinas across the archipelago and five to seven of these being scheduled for only the next ten years, Indonesia has big plans to turn potential into prosperity.

“This is not just about building a marina,” concluded Prabantara. “It is about building Indonesia’s future. It means shifting mindsets, reforming regulations and raising the skills of our people.”

This article was also published in issue 151 of Marina World magazine. Click here to read the online version.