Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1016108
www.travelweekly-asia.com | 19 DESTINATION Bintan Bintan is reaching a tipping point in tourism as it moves to entice more international traffic from the region. It is already charting new waters since it welcomed the maiden arrival of the first international cruise ship, Dream Cruises' Genting Dream—an 18- deck ship of some 150,000 gross "Indonesia is critically important for its growing cruise industry." tonnes—to the island in early July. The new two-night itinerary to Bintan will offer travellers the option of shore excursions to the island with 12 hours of port time from 0700 to 1900 (all times local). A joint effort between Genting Cruise Lines and PT. Bintan By Naomi Neoh visitor arrivals by cruise will come from Dream Cruises." Echoing the positive outlook, Dream Cruises president Thatcher Brown noted that Indonesia is critically important in terms of its growing cruise industry. The cruise line is expecting over 40 calls to Indonesia in the upcoming months till March next year. Plans to study the possibility of docking closer to the island— currently now a 30-minute high-speed ferry ride away— are underway. There are hopes to entice at least 50% of the 5,000 passengers and crew on board to visit the islands. Bolstering air connectivity Due to complete by 2020, the new international airport will connect the island directly to cities within the region—a major upgrade from the current Raja Haji Fisabilillah airport (TNJ), which serves domestic flights from Indonesian cities such as Jakarta and Pekanbaru. A 3000-m runway, longer than the existing 2,000-m at TNJ, will be able to cater for larger aircrafts. Resort Cakrawala, the private owner and developer of the Lagoi Bay area is also expected to expand the local cruise tourism on the island. This includes the key issue of port infrastructure, which will see the cruise line taking an "active lead" in pioneering cruise development works. Bapak Dr. Indroyono Soesilo, Honorary Advisor to the Tourism Minister & Chairperson, Acceleration Team for Marine Tourism Development, Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia, said: "We are expecting some 320,000 passengers to arrive via cruise ships. With Dream Cruises now calling in four destinations in Indonesia, we expect that 10% of Genting Dream docks in Bintan Dream Cruises' Genting Dream.