Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia is seeking to expand yacht tourism to strengthen its marine-tourism ecosystem, attract higher-value visitors and improve competitiveness, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said.Speaking at the INSA Yacht Festival 2026 in Bali on Saturday, she said yacht tourism is one of three pillars of quality marine tourism, alongside cruises and diving.Indonesia has potential to develop yacht tourism because it is the world’s largest archipelagic nation and lies within the Coral Triangle, a global center of marine biodiversity.Wardhana said expanding the sector will require collaboration among industry players, investors, communities, government agencies and tourism stakeholders to build competitive industry.Such cooperation could reinforce Indonesia’s position as a leading marine-tourism destination while spreading economic benefits across related industries and communities, she said.“We hope the collaboration will generate a broader impact–from increasing tourist arrivals and stimulating the shipping, marina and shipyard industries and MSMEs to creating more economic opportunities for coastal communities,” she said.Carmelita Hartoto, chairwoman of the Indonesian National Shipowners Association, said marine-tourism development should be optimized through cooperation between central and regional governments, businesses, industry associations and other stakeholders.Hartoto said marine tourism has strategic value because of its multiplier effect on shipping, marina and shipyard businesses, micro, small and medium enterprises, and coastal communities.“Through the INSA Yacht Festival, we aim to support the development of quality tourism in Indonesia through the activities we present, while providing a collaborative space for stakeholders to develop high-quality marine tourism,” Hartoto said.The INSA Yacht Festival 2026, the event’s third edition, is being held Aug. 7-9 at Benoa Marina in Bali, with activities focused on yachts and marine tourism.The three-day festival features a yacht exhibition, educational tours, yacht viewings, joy rides, boat launches, Pilates sessions aboard yachts, fashion shows and sunset dinner cruises.The Tourism Ministry is supporting the festival through the Bali Tourism Polytechnic, which is providing hospitality services during the event to strengthen tourism skills and service quality.The ministry is also supporting promotional and publicity activities to expand the festival’s reach and highlight Indonesia’s yachting and marine-tourism potential.