DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – Passenger traffic at Sanur Port has significantly increased during the combined Nyepi and Eid al-Fitr holiday period in 2026, with daily crossings to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan rising by up to 50 percent compared to normal conditions.
Head of the Sanur Port Authority (Syahbandar), Warsita, confirmed on Tuesday (March 24) that the surge began on March 20, with 5,972 passengers recorded. The highest daily departure was noted on March 21, reaching 6,963 passengers.
“On regular days, passenger numbers range between 3,000 and 4,000. During this holiday period, we are seeing an increase of around 30 to 50 percent per day,” Warsita said.
Daily vessel operations remain steady, with around 80 to 85 boats operating each day. Each vessel typically completes up to three round trips daily to accommodate the increased demand.
From March 13 (eight days before Eid) to March 23, a total of 46,990 passengers departed from Sanur Port to the Nusa islands, supported by 766 vessel departures. As of March 24 at 09:00 WITA, an additional 3,292 passengers had crossed, bringing the total to 50,282 passengers during the period.
Compared to the same holiday period in 2025, passenger numbers have slightly increased. Last year recorded 45,225 passengers traveling to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, although vessel movements were higher at 804 trips.
Warsita noted that weather conditions have been favorable throughout the current holiday period, ensuring smooth operations.
“Unlike the previous year-end holidays when weather disruptions occurred, conditions this time have been supportive and crossings are running safely,” he explained.
In addition to Sanur Port, other nearby ports also recorded passenger movements during the same period. Benoa Port handled 3,959 passengers with 26 vessel departures, while Serangan Port recorded 5,793 passengers across 212 trips. Tanjung Benoa saw 1,027 passengers with 61 vessel movements.
However, when combined across Sanur, Serangan, and Tanjung Benoa ports, total passenger crossings in 2026 reached 57,770, slightly down by 1.16 percent compared to 58,450 passengers recorded in 2025.
The increase in traffic at Sanur Port reflects strong holiday travel demand, particularly among domestic and international visitors heading to Bali’s popular island destinations.