Southeast Asia launches cruise strategy

Three Southeast Asian nations recently announced plans to enhance cruise strategies that will benefit a number of nations, including the Australian cruise market.

The Singaporean Government will be investing USD700 million in tourism over the next five years, with some of the funding directed to niche sectors with “high growth potential”, such as the cruise industry. The investments are also expected to benefit ground handling services, bunkering and ship repair.

Indonesia’s tourism minister has outlined a series of cruise initiatives aimed at developing the sector. The minister has identified five major ports which will be the entry gates to Indonesia. They are Belawan in Medan, Tanjung Priok in Jakarta, Tanjung Perak in Surabaya, Benoa in Bali and Soekarno-Hatta in Makassar. Indonesia has also eased its visa policies for 79 countries, including China, India, Hong Kong, Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam and the Philippines.