Indonesia pledges smooth sailing for global yachters
THE Indonesian government has pledged to intensify its efforts to improve services for international yachters visiting the archipelago. By doing so, the government hopes to expand the country’s growing maritime-tourist industry.
Indroyono Soesilo, chairman of the Tourism Ministry’s task force to accelerate the development of the maritime industry, highlighted the issuance in 2015 of a presidential regulation on the management of foreign yacht visits as an important milestone in the government’s efforts to streamline the sector.
Under the regulation, foreign yachts and their passengers and crews can access administrative and immigration support when they enter one of 18 selected ports, including Benoa Port in Bali, Sabang Port in Aceh and Belawan Port in Medan.
“I understand that [the tourist] visa period is too short. [With the regulation] yachters now can have their visas extended for six months,” Indroyono said this weekend in Sanur, Bali, during a ceremony to welcome hundreds of participants in the 2017 Fremantle to Bali Ocean Classic yacht race and rally.
Immigration authorities currently grant foreigners permission to visit Indonesia for a maximum of 60 days.
Indonesia has seen the arrival of hundreds of yachts annually over the past decade. It now hopes to lure in “super-yachts”, or yachts measuring more than 24 metres and operated by professional crews, to the archipelago.
To support that goal, the Tourism Ministry has been joining hands with international yachting communities to introduce Indonesia’s potential maritime tourist destinations.
