Six Cruise Ships Scheduled To Lean On Weh Sabang Island This Year

The Sabang City Tourism Office said that six cruise ships carrying foreign tourists are scheduled to dock on Weh Island, Sabang during 2024, so that they are expected to be able to have an impact on improving the economy for local business actors.

"There are six ships that have been confirmed in the Sabangcruise schedule. Hopefully there will be additional visits," said Head of the Sabang Tourism Office Faisal Azwar in Sabang City, Aceh, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 9.

The six ships, namely the Amera cruise ship, are scheduled to dock on February 14, Crysal Serenity on April 8, Azamara Onward on April 9, then Oceania Riviera on May 2, Seabourg Encore on December 4, and Marella Discovery 2 on December 9, 2024.

Faisal explained that the cruise ship visit had a very impact on creative economy actors in the westernmost city of Indonesia. The more visited, the wider the creative economy market (ekraf) of the community will be.

The creative economy actors are very happy with the cruise ship visit. The more visits, the bigger the creative economy market, so as to increase the income of creative economy actors and can also increase the economic leverage of the Sabang community," he said.

Acting Mayor of Sabang Reza Fahlevi said the Sabang City Government continues to collaborate with the Sabang Area Entrepreneurship Agency (BPKS), to increase the number of cruise ship visits to Sabang.

In 2023, there are eight cruise ships docked at the BPKS Pier, namely the Coral Geographher, Amera, Insignia, Nautica, Crystal Simpony, Azamara Journey, Vasco Da Gama, and Seabourg Encore cruises.

"Of course, with the visit of cruise ships that bring foreign tourists, it will increase people's income and economic turnover through the tourism sector and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)," he said.

Reza assessed that cruise ship visits were also a means of promoting and investing for foreign investors in Sabang City, so that this could improve the community's economy, both from the tourism sector and MSMEs.

"We hope that together, this year more cruise ships will stop in Sabang City," he said.