Indonesian Govt eases yacht permits to boost ‘marine tourism’
by Nadya Natahadibrata/Grace D. Amian, Jakarta Post on 12 Nov 2014
Indonesian cruising grounds - waiting for you. And the paperwork may be getting easier very soon SW
In recognition of the potential of the country’s marine sector to become a key driver of the economy and to create jobs, the new Indonesian government is preparing measures to develop the cruise and yacht tourism industries as part of an effort to double the number of foreign visitors entering the country within five years. The government will expedite the issuance of permits for yachts wanting to enter the country’s ports, from taking weeks to taking one day only, with an online one-stop service protocol under the management of the Foreign Ministry, said Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Indroyono Soesilo.
The government is also planning to lengthen the time yacht permits would remain valid, from a period of six months to a whole year of multiple entries. Under the current regulation, yacht owners and cruise ship companies must obtain permits from at least 16 institutions — including the Foreign Ministry, the Transportation Ministry and the Indonesian Military (TNI) — and the lengthy process discourages them from spurring local economic activities.
The government has estimated that the number of incoming yachts would double to 1,500 after the policy is implemented next year through a presidential regulation (Perpres). The policy is also expected to boost state revenues from the tourism industry, as passengers of cruise lines have high purchasing power. 'According to our calculation, a passenger of a cruise line spends an average of US$500 per day and $2,000 per week,' Indroyono said in an interview with The Jakarta Post.
Full story: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/11/govt-eases-yacht-permits-marine-tourism-boost.html
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/128907
