Indonesia cruise tourism in full swing

JAKARTA - Cruise tourism to Indonesia is turning increasingly popular with the number of calls and passengers jumping by over 40% in 2013. The figure was given to media by Indonesia Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry’s marketing director general, Esthy Reko Astuti.

She revealed that 309 ports-of-call were made throughout 2013, up by 44% compared to 2012. The growth in number of foreign tourists on cruise ships topped 159,578, a slightly lower performance at 40.2% increase from last year. “These are the best figures that have ever been recorded in our cruise industry’s history, and this is the result of continuous effort by all relevant stakeholders, and local governments and ministries,” Esthy said in Jakarta last week.

Indonesia dynamism to lure new cruise ships is due to a pro active participation at major sea and maritime tourism trade fairs such as Cruise Shipping Miami, considered the world’s premier annual event for the cruise industry.

But according to Mrs. Astuti, it has also to do by an exceptional effort of Indonesia to boost port facilities across the archipelago but also in Singapore. The new cruise terminal of the City State is also a major factor to lure more travellers into Indonesia as Singapore remains an important gateway for cruiseliners. Talking to the Jakarta Post, Erlan Abbas, head of dredging and reclamation at Indonesia Transportation Ministry, said the ministry had allotted US$ 77.2 million next year for dredging work at 19 ports nationwide, including seven ports that were popular with cruise companies, including Benoa; Tanjung Emas in Central Java; Kumai in Central Kalimantan; and Palembang in South Sumatra.

“Every port channel is going to be deepened by 1 to 2 meters next year so that larger cruise ships can safely enter them,” said the representative of the Ministry of transport.

The Indonesian government remains optimistic that the cruise sector will continue to experience a growth in cruise tourism over the year to come. For 2014, estimated port of calls would stand at 385 corresponding to 203,000 passengers. The total growth into cruise passengers would then come at 25%.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews