Vincentius Alvin Yoga
May 28, 2026
Travel between Bali and Lombok is about to become even easier as the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Provincial Government prepares to launch a new fast boat route connecting Mandalika and Sanur. As Lombok continues to rise in popularity among international travelers in 2026, the new sea connection is expected to improve accessibility, support tourism growth, and offer more convenient travel options for both tourists and local communities. The move also marks another important step in strengthening connectivity between Bali and Indonesia’s emerging tourism destinations, especially as Mandalika continues developing into one of the country’s key travel hotspots.
Lombok Continues to Rise as a Tourism Destination
Located only a short fast boat journey from Bali, Lombok has become increasingly popular among travelers who are looking to extend their holiday beyond the Island of the Gods. Areas such as the three Gilis, Senggigi, and Mandalika have continued attracting attention thanks to their beaches and growing tourism infrastructure.
Mandalika itself has been identified as one of Indonesia’s five Super Priority Destinations, often referred to as the “New Balis.” Through this initiative, the Indonesian government aims to develop several destinations across the country to eventually reach the same level of international recognition as Bali. The growing tourism demand is also expected to increase further ahead of the Mandalika MotoGP, scheduled to take place from 9–11 October 2026.
New Mandalika–Sanur Fast Boat Route Under Development
To support this growth, the NTB Provincial Government confirmed plans to open a direct fast boat route connecting Mandalika in Lombok and Sanur in Bali. Once operational, the service will run year-round and provide travelers with another convenient option for crossing between the islands.
Currently, several routes already operate between Bali and Lombok, including from Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan, Padang Bai to Senggigi, Padang Bai to Bangsal, Sanur to Gili Trawangan, and Sanur to Senggigi. The new Mandalika route from Sanur is expected to provide more flexibility, improve availability during peak travel periods, and potentially create more competitive pricing for passengers.
Head of the NTB Transportation Agency, Ervan Anwar, explained that his team is currently facilitating operational permits for Mandalika Port. Once completed, the Mandalika Pier inside the Mandalika Special Economic Zone (KEK) will officially connect with the Sanur Special Economic Zone in Bali for fast boat transportation services.
According to Anwar, the government is also continuing efforts to strengthen transportation connectivity not only through air travel, but also by land and sea transportation networks.
More Fast Boats and Better Infrastructure for Lombok
Besides the new Mandalika route, Lombok is also seeing significant growth in its fast boat sector overall. The number of fast boat operators serving routes between Bali and Lombok has reportedly doubled from three to six operators.
According to NTB Tourism and Creative Economy Agency Head Ahmad Nur Aulia, the increase in operators is expected to help smooth tourist movement toward Lombok’s popular destinations, especially Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, ahead of the upcoming high season period from June to December.
The recently completed Senggigi Harbour development is also expected to improve comfort and efficiency for fast boat operations heading toward the Gilis. Tourism leaders in Lombok hope the improved infrastructure will continue boosting visitor demand across the island. In the future, the provincial government is also exploring possibilities for additional routes connecting other tourism destinations in NTB, including trips toward Moyo Island and destinations across Sumbawa.
Strengthening Regional Connectivity Between Bali, NTB, and NTT
The development of new fast boat connections is also part of a broader regional collaboration between Bali, NTB, and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Through ongoing cooperation between the provinces, leaders hope to create more integrated travel experiences across eastern Indonesia.
Improved accessibility is expected to not only support tourism growth, but also strengthen local economies and make inter-island travel easier for residents. Officials also noted that transportation affordability remains an important priority, with subsidy schemes continuing to play a role in maintaining accessible public transportation services.
As Bali and Lombok become increasingly connected through new sea routes and upgraded infrastructure, travelers can look forward to more seamless island-hopping experiences in Indonesia. With Mandalika continuing to grow as an international destination and Lombok attracting rising global interest, the future of tourism connectivity between the islands looks increasingly promising.
