Who doesn’t know the phinisi? This traditional ship, originating from South Sulawesi, is a legendary vessel used in the past by the Bugis people to navigate the Indonesian archipelago and to various parts of the world. Despite being a traditional vessel, the phinisi has a dashing and majestic appearance, characterized by its two main masts and seven giant sails.
To immortalize and reinforce the character of South Sulawesi as the origin of this ship, while also strengthening Makassar’s brand as the largest port city in eastern Indonesia, the Makassar City Government is collaborating with the private sector to introduce phinisi boat tourism.
The phinisi tourism operation was inaugurated on November 17, 2025, attended by the Indonesian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Muhammad Anis Matta. He praised Makassar’s marine tourism potential, which he considered powerful stories and unique cultural richness, yet has not been widely promoted internationally. During a leisurely cruise with Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin and Deputy Mayor Aliyah Mustika Ilham on a Phinisi boat, Anis Matta stated that Indonesia has an extraordinary cultural heritage, including the Phinisi, but still lacks the ability to showcase its uniqueness to the world.
Choosing Losari Beach as their port, four Phinisi boats were on display. Two were privately owned and two were owned by the Makassar City Government. The presence of these Phinisi boats immediately attracted public interest. Travel enthusiasts acknowledged that enjoying the beauty of the sunset in Makassar Bay has become an increasingly special experience thanks to the presence of Phinisi boats. Moreover, at a budget-friendly price, visitors can sail along the bay at sunset (around 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM WITA), while enjoying the beautiful panorama of Makassar city from the sea, accompanied by a gentle, cooling breeze. The package options are varied, ranging from romantic Sunset Cruises, Romantic Dinners on board, to cultural educational tour packages for students and international tourists, where they can learn firsthand about the history and philosophy behind the creation of the Phinisi.
