Bali’s new cruise ship terminal is due to be ready by the end of the year. The new facility, which will be constructed at Port Benoa, will help boost the tourism figures of Indonesia.
It is expected that Port Benoa will be modified into a world-class port that will not only be able to accommodate super luxury yachts but large cruise ships as well.
Currently, cruise liners that call at Benoa have to moor offshore and travelers are tendered ashore.
According to Chairman of Bali Tourism Board, Ida Bagus Agung Partha, the terminal was vital because of the current shortage of capacity of Denpasar.
The special advisor to the minister on marine tourism development, Indroyono Soesilo, said that part of Benoa Master Plan included dredging the sea 12 meters deep and widening the area up to 200 meters which would mean some of the largest cruise ships in the world could visit the region.
The terminal will be able to accommodate a total of 5000 passengers and 1500 crew, equal to 44 Boeing 737 aircraft.
He also revealed there were plans to develop a 2nd port in northern Bali that would accommodate 7 ships at a time, each with capacity up to 1000 guests.
The government also hope to build 5 other ports in Indonesia including Soekarno-Hatta (Makassar), Belawan (North Sumatera), Tanjung Perak (Surabaya) and Tanjung Priok (Jakarta).