A presidential regulation has been issued (and) "it is aimed at easing foreign yachts` visits to Indonesia," the chief economic minister`s deputy for industry and trade coordination, Edy Putra Irawadi, said here on Friday.
He said the regulation would become the legal basis that will ease visits by foreign yachts to Indonesia.
He said he hoped the regulation would also increase investment in Indonesia especially in the field of tourism and its supporting industries.
"With regard to marine tourism we need not talk of incentives. What we need are facilities," he said.
Edy said the presidential regulation has opened a heaven in Indonesia for foreign yachts.
He said he expected the number of yachts visiting the country through 18 gates would reach 1,000 and 2,000 in 2013. This year the number is expected to still reach around 400, he said.
He said "a lot of investors have been interested such as from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia and Finland. They are interested to invest in peer construction, operatorship or event organization."
The director general of tourist destination development, Firmansyah Rahim, meanwhile said he hoped with the regulation more yachts would visit the country.
"It is hoped it will contribute to economic growth in coastal areas, small islands and inland waters in the country," he said.
He said the regulation regulates among others the process of application for and extension of the Clearance and Approval for Indonesia Territory (CAIT), port administration, customs service, immigration and quarantine for foreign tourist ships and crew entering and leaving through the 18 gates.
Firman said supporting facilities for foreign yachts would be given in the form of special terminals, foreign yacht lanes, navigation facilities, maintenance service, yacht repair service and others.
The owner of Marina Batavia, Ari Bastman, said investment in the field of marina development is a prospective long-term investment.
He hailed the issuance of the presidential regulation which he thought would ease foreign yachts to enter the country`s waters. He said "we have invested (in the field) since 2001 by developing critical land in Sunda Kelapa and Marina Batavia now has a capacity of accommodating 130 boats with a total investment reaching Rp600 billion."
He said he planned to develop the capacity to be able accommodate up to 300 boats because the business would be prospective following the issuance of the presidential regulation on visits of foreign boats to Indonesia. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
