The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has undertaken a significant revision of regulations governing foreign cruise ships, particularly yachts and cruises, operating in Indonesia. This move is seen as an effort to provide a clearer and stronger legal framework for these vessels.
Captain Hendri Ginting, the Director of Traffic and Sea Transportation, shed light on the revisions embedded in Regulation No. 4/2022. The objective is to eliminate any ambiguity, creating a robust legal foundation for foreign tourist ships in Indonesia.
Moreover, these regulations aim to elevate the quality and competitiveness of Indonesian-flagged tourist ships, facilitating a harmonious coexistence with their foreign counterparts. The shift is strategic, intending to offer precise guidelines and support the homeport concept in Indonesia.
“With this concept, foreign cruise ships will utilize Indonesian ports as both the starting and concluding points of their journeys. This, we hope, will yield a significantly positive impact on the economies surrounding tourist destinations,” he conveyed in an official statement on Thursday (25/1/2024).
The revision process engaged various stakeholders to ensure comprehensive input, involving representatives from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, PT Pelindo, as well as association representatives like DPP INSA, the Maritime and Water Tourism Entrepreneurs Association (Gahawisri), the Association of Recreational Ship Networks (Jangkar), and the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI).
The importance of these regulatory changes extends beyond enhancing port service levels; they also encompass positive impacts on the local economy, job opportunities, and the global promotion of Indonesian tourism.
The changes are anticipated to offer clearer and more relevant guidance, ensuring the safeguarding of interests for all parties in line with dynamic developments in the field.
In a parallel perspective, Rifanie Komara, the Head of the Sub-Directorate of Foreign Maritime Transport, emphasized the crucial role of collaboration between the government, industry, and the community in implementing the second amendment to Regulation No. 4/2022.
He underscored the government’s unwavering commitment to making these regulatory changes a robust foundation for the future development of the tourism and maritime transport sectors.
Several proposed points include additional explanations related to the operation of foreign cruise ships carrying tourists at domestic ports for tourism and the classification of foreign cruise ships that can transport tourists from the departure port within the country.
The proposed revisions in Article 9 include changes such as allowing the owner or operator of a foreign cruise ship to operate the ship sailing from abroad to enter Indonesian waters. They must comply with permits, including permits to transit/anchor in Indonesian waters, Foreign Ship Agency Approval (PKKA), and Sailing Approval Letter from the departure port abroad.
“And the owner or operator of a foreign cruise ship can transport tourists at domestic ports, provided they have legal documents from their home country to carry out passenger/tourist transportation activities and are not considered private cruise ships,” added Rifanie.
Furthermore, there’s a pressing need to delve into the characteristics of ships, service requirements, infrastructure development, as well as the economic and tourism impacts for the empowerment of local communities.
This understanding transcends port service levels, encompassing positive impacts on the local economy, job opportunities, and the global promotion of Indonesian tourism.
Rifanie highlighted that this revision is part of the government’s broader efforts to promote the development of the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub (BMTH). This strategic project aims to become an integrated tourism area with a yacht marina, cruise ship docks, and other supporting facilities centered around the Benoa Cruise Terminal.
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