Yacht Festival 2026 Held at Benoa Port, Highlighting Marine Tourism Growth

The Yacht Festival 2026, organized by the Indonesian National Shipowners Association (INSA), is being held at Benoa Port in Denpasar from August 7 to 9, 2026. The opening ceremony on August 8 was attended by Indonesia's Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardana and House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani.

The minister described the festival as an important showcase of Indonesia's growing marine tourism ecosystem, noting its role alongside cruise and diving tourism. She emphasized that Indonesia, as the world's largest archipelagic nation and part of the Coral Triangle, holds the second-largest marine biodiversity in the world.

Festival committee chair Nova Yudhanto Mugijanto pointed out that yacht tourism vessels are currently regulated under the same framework as passenger ships, despite differences in their characteristics and operations. He said the industry is not seeking lower safety standards, but rather a dedicated classification suited to tourism vessels, which could also improve insurance costs and financing access.

As of August 8, around 2,000 visitors had attended the event, with organizers targeting more than 4,000 by its conclusion, surpassing the previous edition. INSA Chairwoman Carmelita Hartoto called for stronger collaboration between government, businesses, and stakeholders amid global uncertainty, and reiterated calls for consistent implementation of the 'Beyond Cabotage' policy.

The event is a general tourism festival with no direct impact on transportation, safety, or entry regulations in Bali.