In a project that’s expected to improve access issues for cruise passengers to the destination, the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) is set to open a brand-new cruise port in Menjangan, to the north-west of Bali. Covering 100 hectares of land, the first phase of planned facilities includes a cruise terminal and two hotels, expected to open for business within two years. Other development projects in the pipeline include a golf course, retail outlets, and a marine aquarium.
To develop this lesser-visited region of Bali, Indonesian construction company WIKA is investing two trillion rupiah (US$134 million) for the preliminary stage of development. The project forms part of a larger plan to create a cruise route connecting different parts of Indonesia, as ITDC expands its business portfolio into destination management and cruise tourism development.
“In Indonesia, we are working with (port authorities) in Bakauheni (South Sumatra, where ferries now connect Sumatra and Java), Probolinggo (the cruise gateway to Mt Bromo) and Banyuwangi in East Java. The local governments in these areas are planning to develop cruise facilities,†said Edwin Darmasetiawan, director of ITDC. “The idea is to create a port of call and a destination at the same time,†he continued. ITDC is also working with the Singapore Cruise Association to connect Singapore with cruise routes through South Sumatra, along Java, Bali, Lombok and Labuan Bajo (Komodo).
ITDC is the owner and developer of both the Nusa Dua integrated tourism complex in Bali, and the Mandalika project in Lombok. In addition to the new terminal in Menjangan, there are also plans to build a marina in ITDC’s Nusa Dua and Lombok projects, plus a new terminal in Labuan Bajo.
