Over 1,200 foreign tourists arrived in Semarang in Central Java in a cruise ship on Sunday.

The tourists were passengers on the 237-meter Dutch-flagged MS Rotterdam. 

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said the country was seeking to attract more foreign cruise ships from such places as Singapore, Hong Kong and Europe to dock in Indonesia.

“Now cruise ships are able to drop off and pick up tourists in large seaports all over the country. Hopefully the new policy will provide more space for the cruise industry to grow and develop in this archipelagic country,” said Arief.

After docking at Tanjung Mas Port, the foreigners were scheduled to visit the Borobudur Temple and explore the city of Semarang.

Central Java Tourism Agency head Prasetyo Ariwibowo said the tour package for the cruise ship passengers included a visit to Nyonya Meneer Museum in Semarang’s Old Town, Blenduk Church and shopping at Batik 16. 

Since late last year, the government has relaxed restrictions imposed on foreign cruise ships by issuing a ministerial regulation, allowing such ships to drop anchor at selected Indonesian ports in a bid to boost tourism.  The ships can also collect tourists from those ports for cruising within the country or abroad. 

Previously, the government restricted foreign and domestic tourists from using foreign-flagged ships to travel from one port to another under the cabotage principle based on Law No. 17/2008 on cruises. The cabotage principle obliged all sea transportation within the country to use Indonesian-flagged ships only. (kes)

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