Banjarmasin

Banjarmasin – The Venice of the East

One of the largest cities in the country by land size, Banjarmasin holds a significant place in Indonesian history and trade. Situated at the confluence of the Barito and Martapura rivers, it served as a vital hub during the Dutch era, connecting Java and Singapore to eastern Kalimantan. Known as the "City of a Thousand Rivers" or the "Venice of the East.”  Its unique aquatic environment sets it apart from other urban centers in the archipelago.

The city's identity is deeply rooted in its waterways, shaping its culture and economy. Dominated by the indigenous Banjar people, its population thrives around bustling floating markets on the Kuin River and Lok Baintan, iconic hubs of daily commerce.

Beyond the rivers, the city boasts natural beauty, with various rainforests and wetlands that visitors can admire through boat tours and tourism retreats like Riam Kanan Lake. These rivers also serve as picturesque ways to explore the city's suburbs.

Banjarmasin is also an ideal place to learn about the local Dayak people and their lifestyles. Visitors can arrange tours to visit their traditional villages, characterized by longhouses built on stilts, and experience their customs and beliefs.

As befits its importance, Banjarmasin continues to enjoy robust commercial prospects. In 2023 alone, it surpassed its Rp 1.1 trillion target, reaching a total of Rp 1.6 trillion. This growth in investment was predominantly in the city's services and trade sectors, alongside the development of a major hospital and investments in hotels, restaurants and cafes. Further enhancing the city's pride, the provincial government of South Kalimantan recently honored Banjarmasin for achieving the best regional development in 2024. These promising results have emboldened the local government to raise the city's investment goals for 2024 to an ambitious Rp 1.9 trillion.

Banjarmasin’s Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at current prices in 2023 reached Rp 42.05 trillion, an increase of Rp 3.55 trillion compared to Rp 38.49 trillion in 2022. Based on the 2010 constant prices, the GRDP also increased from Rp 23.97 trillion in 2022 to Rp 25.31 trillion in 2023. Sectors contributed to the GRDP were mining and excavation at 27.79 percent, followed by agriculture, livestock, forestry, and fisheries at 21.86 percent, and wholesale and retail trade, car and motorbike repairs at 9.87 percent.