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Sails set: Entrepreneurs, government look to ride wave of marine tourism
A phinisi is a traditional schooner with a wooden hull and multiple sails traditionally built by people of the Bugis-Makassar ethnicity and recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
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Ocean adventure: The Amaya Explorer is docked at the Ancol Marina in North Jakarta on Sept. 19. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
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ruising through sparkling blue waters, diving with colorful fish and island-hopping from sandy shore to sandy shore might soon be on everyone’s vacation to-do-list with more and more tourism players taping into the uncharted waters of marine tourism amid the government’s efforts to promote the sector.
Founder and owner of phinisi tourism company Jelajah Bahari Mulia, Bobby Wiliyanto, one of the few players in the industry, said the little-known concept of live-aboard boats was appealing for tourists.
“The advantage of a live-aboard boat is that people can wake up next to a different island and cover more areas of interest, instead of going back to shore after exploring the seas,” the 42-year-old told The Jakarta Post on Sept. 19.
Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), in particular, is famous for this form of accommodation and travel, with tourists enjoying adventures filled with island hopping, snorkeling and visits to Komodo Island as they sail aboard a phinisi for several days.
A phinisi is a traditional schooner with a wooden hull and multiple sails traditionally built by people of the Bugis-Makassar ethnicity and recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
Bobby’s two vessels, the Benetta and the Amaya, were built by locals at Tanjung Bira Beach, Bulukumba regency, in South Sulawesi where the tradition of phinisi building dates back centuries.
“I used to work as a naval architect and saw many industrial shipyards, but the Bira people can make great phinisi without design plans or heavy machinery,” said Bobby, who recently resigned from his job in the oil and gas industry to focus on phinisi tourism.
