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Indonesia Tourism aims for more cruise calls
The Indonesian Government is committed to maintaining the Australian tourism market while developing niche market sectors including cruise and yacht. Next month, the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia will hold Wonderful Indonesia Cruise Sales Mission in Sydney on 12th of August.
The Government is increasing support for niche market tourism development. Starting from the exemption of cabotage so that cruise ships are able to embark and disembark passengers at the appointed ports of Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Tanjung Benoa in Bali, Belawan in Medan and Makassar. The goverment has also eased the CIQP (customs, immigration, quarantine, and port authorities) procedures, simplified the sail permit application from one month to just one day and plans to build new marinas in Saumlaki, Ambon, Kupang, Tarakan, Labuan Bajo, Tanjung Pandan, and Belitung.
Yachters will also learn that the Clearance and Approval for Indonesian Territory (CAIT) has been abolished.
For cruise and yacht operators, Indonesia offers many advantages. Firstly, the weather enables tours to be offered all year round as there is no winter and the possibility of storms is very low. Secondly, the Caribbean and Mediteranean are well known. Indonesia is relatively undiscovered an offers natural beauty and cultural richness unlike anywhere else in the world. Thirdly, for Australians flying into Indonesia to take a local charter vessel Indonesia is visa free for up to 30 days.
According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia, cruising has grown at close to 20% per annum for the last decade out of Australia with Asia leading the way in 2015 with growth of 71.5%.
In 2015 1,058,000 Australians took a cruise some and some 23 million took a cruise globally. Australia represents 4.6% of the global market and has the largest market penetration in the world as a source market.
Cruise traffic in Indonesia is presently 360 calls and 266,000 passengers in 2016. This is expected to grow as new destinations open up and legislation is eased. Much of this is expedition vessels, boutique vessels and vessels of limited capacity (up to 1,500 passengers).
Australia is the main market for Indonesia’s tourism industry. In the last two years, the number of Australian visitors to Indonesia was above 1 million along with visitors from Malaysia, China and Singapore.
Bali is still the number one destination for Australians and world travellers. Ngurah Rai International Airport of Bali contributed over 90% of inbound visits to Indonesia.
However the Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Arief Yahya has a vision for Bali to be a hub.
“We want to promote Bali and Beyond so that destinations close to Bali can also develop. After enjoying Bali visitors can continue on to other destinations such as Banyuwangi, Lombok, Wakatobi, Labuan Bajo and Bromo,” mentions Mr. Yahya.
Presently the Government of Indonesia is developing 10 priority destinations also known as the ‘10 New Balis’. Lake Toba, Tanjung Kelayang, Tanjung Lesung, Seribu (Thousand) Islands, Borobudur, Bromo-Semeru, Labuan Bajo, Mandalika, Wakatobi, and Morotai are being matured to be ready to welcome tourists. For this year, the Ministry has set the target of 1.4 million visits from Downunder.
The Cruise and Yacht Sales Mission will be held on 12th August 2016 at the Hilton Hotel, 488 George St Sydney. A media brief will be held at 4pm and the trade event commences at 5pm with a briefing, tabletop sales mission and dinner to follow.
Source: etbtravelnews.com
