Increase Indonesian Tourism, Pelindo Collaborates With Resort World Cruises

Cruise Resort World Center (Photo: Antara/HO-Pelindo)

JAKARTA - PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) or Pelindo is collaborating with Resorts World Cruises. This is to support the growth of the maritime tourism sector in Indonesia.

This collaboration was marked by the signing of a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties.

"The signing of this MoU marks a new chapter in the domestic maritime tourism industry and confirms Indonesia's position as the main destination for cruise ships in the Asian region. With the start of this collaboration, it is hoped that there will be an increase in cruise ship visits to Indonesia," said Pelindo Management Director Putut Sri Muljanto quoting Antara.

Through this memorandum of understanding, Pelindo and Resorts World Cruises agreed to collaborate and explore further the potential for cooperation and joint development in the cruise ship terminal business in various locations in Indonesia.

Furthermore, efforts to increase cruise ship visits to Pelindo's port, collaboration in promoting the tourism and cruise ship industry in Indonesia as well as the development and service of cruise ships for domestic routes in Indonesia.

Putut said Pelindo as the largest port operator in Indonesia is ready to support cruise ship visits in Indonesia. There are more than 20 ports managed by Pelindo serving cruise ship visits, including Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Emas, Belawan, Makassar, Benoa, Gili Mas, Labuan Bajo, and Sorong.

"The next step is to strengthen port connectivity in the west and east so that the spread of tourists can be even more evenly distributed. Currently, Pelindo is developing the Benoa Port infrastructure in Bali, namely the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub and also Gili Mas Port in Lombok so that these ports can become the main destinations for cruise ships in eastern Indonesia," said Putut.

Meanwhile, Resorts World Cruises President Michael Goh hopes that with Indonesia's potential as a market share and tourist destination that continues to grow, his party can support the development of the tourism sector from and to Indonesia. "So that it can improve the local economy and other sectors related to the tourism industry," he said.

This collaboration is also in line with the government's policy to continue developing the tourism industry. Indonesia has many maritime tourist destinations that have the potential to become the destinations of cruise ships, such as Bali, Labuan Bajo, Lombok, Raja Ampat, and others.

The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) as a regulator also plays an active role in encouraging increased tourism, especially maritime tourism through the preparation of supportive regulations for the cruise ship industry.

Director of Traffic and Sea Transportation of the Directorate General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation Hendri Ginting said the development of cruise ship routes in Indonesia could be a stimulus to increase the number of tourists both from within and outside the country.

"Currently, we are in the process of perfecting regulations to provide better service for the operation of foreign cruise ships in Indonesia. This includes the possibility of transporting tourists from domestic ports to travel, exploring various spots and tourist destinations before returning to their ports of origin," said Hendri.