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By APD writer Maverick
JAKARTA, Sept. 4 (APD) – Indonesia planned to expand capacity of Celukan Bawang seaport in northern part of Indonesia’s resort island of Bali, aimed at making the existing seaport capable to accommodate larger cruise ships.
The plan was made by Indonesian tourism ministry with construction project was expected to commence December this year and finished in March next year.
Project in the seaport located in Bali’s Buleleng regency would cover construction of terminal, including its facility and accommodations for cruise ship passengers, and dredging the seabed in the port so as to make larger cruise ships capable to dock in the port.
“The docking of larger cruise ships, which bring thousands of tourists, would live up potential destinations in north Bali, among others Lovina Beach, Lake Beratan, Bedugul Zoo, Menjangan Island and West Bali National Park. It would lead to the development of new destinations in Bali,” Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said on Monday.
He added the Celukan Bawang seaport project would add more of Bali potentialities in attracting foreign visitors from the island’s southern part which mostly favored by foreign tourists.
The project would add another seaport capable to facilitate cruise ship in Bali from the one now developed in Benoa.
Cited to data published by Cruise Line International Association, the minister said that 172 cruise ships already have schedules to visit Indonesian seaports across the country as part of their tour programs.
He added that their visit schedules were highly potentials to further develop the nation’s tourism as Indonesia has the nature that highly favors cruise ship tour programs.
“Indonesia has warm temperature throughout the year with beautiful beaches and diverse kind of traditional foods,” the minister said.
According to Celukan Bawang seaport administrator Made Rusly Sunia Jaya, the port is now only capable to facilitate cruise ships with up to 3,000 passengers. The dredging project is expected to deepen the seaport to 15 meters.
Head of Buleleng regency tourism office Nyoman Sutrisna said that a large cruise ship with a capacity of 5,000 passengers, Dream Cruise, has put its schedule to visit Celukan Bawang seaport in its 2017-2018 tour programs.
As the project in the seaport is underway during the visit, he said that the regency has prepared the necessities to accommodate the larger cruise ship, including to prepare vessels to transport passengers from the cruise ship to the port.
Indonesia is now taking herculean efforts to develop its tourism sector, which has been declared as the nation's core industry.
Besides Bali, which has long been favored by foreign tourists, Indonesia is developing new 10 destinations across the country, mostly themed marine tourism.
Indonesia has set target to receive 15 million foreign tourists this year and 20 million ones by 2019.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
