T

he government is upbeat about boosting the number of visits of foreign yachts to 1,000 in 2012 from a previous annual figure of 400, by issuing Presidential Regulation No. 79/2011 on yacht visits to Indonesia.

Director general for tourism destination development at the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, Firmansyah Rahim, said that this optimism was based on the fact that the regulation outlined a quick process in relation to security, customs, immigration and quarantine clearances, which would take a maximum of a day to complete.

“As of today the process still takes several days, therefore yachts from overseas are reluctant to stay here,” he told a press conference on Friday.

Security guarantees from the government, also mentioned in the regulation, are another reason that may contribute to the increasing visits of foreign yachts to Indonesian waters, Firmansyah said.

“Patrol ships will guard Indonesian waters,” he added.

Despite Indonesia’s vast territorial waters, patrol ships will only guard areas around 18 selected seaports to ensure tight security for visiting yachts.

Firmansyah said that the 18 ports were chosen because cities close to these ports possessed abundant tourism potential, such as Sabang in Aceh, Bitung in North Sulawesi and Biak in Papua.

The regulation details a further security guarantee: the use of a global positioning system (GPS).

“Our waters are vast. Although yachts move in waters near selected ports, we cannot always detect their whereabouts. With GPS, we will not lose them,” he said.

As the regulation identifies several reasons that may attract the visit of more yachts from overseas to Indonesia, Firmansyah also hopes that it may stimulate foreign investors to invest in selected ports through marina and yacht maintenance facility construction.

“Permanent marinas will also contribute to a multiplied amount of foreign yachts coming to the country because future marinas will assure the yachts’ crews that their ships will be safe in Indonesia, and it may encourage the yachts to stay longer here,” Firmansyah said.

Edy Putra Irawadi, Deputy Coordinating Minister for the Economy on trade and industry affairs, told the press conference that some countries had shown an interest in becoming investors for marina construction.

“There is some interest from Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and Finland. Negotiations are still ongoing,” he said.

A commissioner from the Caputra Group, Ari Bastaman, said that investment for a marina would cost around Rp 60 billion (US$6.6 million).

“This marina can accommodate 130 yachts,” he said, adding that the yachts ranged from 20 meters to 80 meters in length.

“A 20-meter yacht costs at least Rp 2 billion and a 80-meter yacht costs around Rp 10 to Rp 100 billion,” Ari said.

Currently, Indonesia had only three permanent marinas, said Firmansyah. Those were Batavia Marina in Jakarta old town, Benoa Marina in Bali and Nongsa Point Marina in Batam, therefore the country needed to build more.

Along with a plan on marinas that may boost the number of visiting yachts, Edy also hoped that tourism revenue would increase.

 “A tourist is expected to spend US$960 for a two-day stay. Around five to 12 individuals ride on a yacht. If the number of foreign yachts increase, then revenue from yacht tourism will increase,” he said.

Edy said that tourists came from various countries. Further he said that those yachts coming to Indonesia had previously docked at ports in Darwin, Australia, or in Singapore. (fem)