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Investor Daily - BMTH jadi jangkar konektivitas pariwisata RI
7 May 2024
By Ichsan Amin
Jakarta, ID – Bali Maritime Tourism Hub (BMTH) as a national strategic project (PSN) is set to officially operate in 2025. It aims to serve as a gateway for international tourism to Indonesia via maritime routes.
To support this goal, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) or Pelindo is continuously overseeing the construction of BMTH. Pelindo Strategy Director Prasetyo stated that the development and construction of BMTH has passed the port master plan stage. He also explained that BMTH, through the development of Benoa Port, was a public port, not a fishing port.
“One of the impacts of the development of BMTH is that large cruise ships, exceeding 300 metres in length and capable of accommodating an average of 3,000 passengers, have started to dock at Benoa Port,” he said in Jakarta on Monday (6/5/2024).
BMTH is expected to be the home port for several international cruise lines in Indonesia. On the other hand, Prasetyo said that, before the pandemic, cruise ship visits at Benoa Port in Bali reached 97 ships. However, most of these cruise ships were less than 300 metres in length.
Previously, large ships of the Royal Caribbean Cruise line could not dock at Benoa Port in Bali. “However, with the development of BMTH, cruise ships reaching 300-340 metres can dock at Benoa Port. With the development, the Royal Caribbean Cruise line is interested in making BMTH its home port. Besides that, other cruise ships have started to stay more than one day at Benoa Port,” Prasetyo explained.
Last year, BMTH served 48 ships and 77,864 passengers. Meanwhile, Pelindo Investment Director Boy Robyanto said that the construction was set to be completed at the end of 2024. The development carried out includes the clustering of areas in accordance with the port master plan.
“By accelerating the construction of BMTH, we hope to develop Bali’s economy to benefit Bali’s population,” Boy Robyanto said.
Prasetyo explained that BMTH was prepared to be an anchor to develop tourism connectivity in Indonesia. As the main point of marine tourism in Indonesia, BMTH is connected to domestic and international tourism routes.
“For example, Lombok, Labuan Bajo, and Raja Ampat are connected to the east. On the other hand, to the west, there are Surabaya, Banyuwangi, Probolinggo, Semarang, Jakarta, and various regions in Sumatra. Meanwhile, the international connectivity includes Southeast Asia and Australia,” he revealed.
Previously, in front of House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VI, Pelindo had revealed the development process of Bali Maritime Tourism Hub. One of the recommendations of Gde Sumarjaya Linggih, a member of DPR Commission V, is to relocate non-tuna ships at Benoa Port.
“The BMTH project in Benoa is expected to integrate all sectors. Not only as a port that accommodates cruise ships and yachts, but also as a new tourism destination in Bali, especially for nautical tourism,” he revealed.
Gde Sumarjaya added that BMTH would be a new tourism destination. “Later, they can go anywhere [in Bali]. Not only to refuel or throw away their trash, but they can enjoy the natural beauty of Bali that is internationally famous. They can stay for 10 days or one month here,” he said.
BMTH as a PSN has entered the final stage and has started to focus on the construction of passenger facilities. BMTH is set to officially operate in 2025 to be an international tourism gateway to Indonesia via maritime routes.
SPMT serves cruise ships
Meanwhile, to support Indonesia’s economic and tourism sectors, PT Pelindo Multi Terminal (SPMT) is serving cruise ships at three of its passenger terminals, namely Tanjung Emas, Lembar, and Parepare.
SPMT, as Pelindo’s subholding that manages the non-container terminal segment in Indonesia, does not only manage terminals for liquid-bulk, dry-bulk, and general cargo, but SPMT also manages passenger terminals, such as Tanjung Emas, Lembar, Parepare, Gresik, and Tanjung Wangi.
As of April 2024, SPMT's Tanjung Emas branch has welcomed 13 ships carrying 10,392 international tourists to Tanjung Emas Port. Upon arrival, these tourists proceeded to visit historical sites in Central Java, including Borobudur Temple, Gedong Songo, and Ambarawa, along with a city tour of Semarang.
SPMT Corporate Secretary Fiona Sari Utami explained that SPMT welcomed these cruise ships carrying thousands of international tourists to dock at SPMT’s managed ports, such as Tanjung Emas, Lembar, and Parepare.
“To serve the cruise ships docking at SPMT’s ports, we are providing prime services by making thorough preparations and coordinating with local stakeholders to facilitate these cruise ships docking at the ports,” she stated.
The arrival of these cruise ships brings thousands of international tourists who will travel to various tourism destinations.
“We hope SPMT can play its role in enhancing the tourism sector and the economy in the vicinity of its ports by accommodating the arrival of international tourists who will go to various tourism destinations. MSMEs are also expected to seize this opportunity to offer their creative economic products to these tourists,” Fiona added.
