During CruiseWorld Indonesia 2024, industry leaders gathered to discuss the untapped potential of Indonesia's cruise market, highlighting opportunities for significant growth and addressing challenges in this emerging sector.

The event, held on 31 July at JW Marriott Jakarta, welcomed over 200 travel professionals and featured insights from key players in the cruise and tourism industries.

Immense potential in Indonesian cruise market

Indonesia's cruise market is poised for significant growth, according to industry leaders at CruiseWorld Asia 2024. Irene Chua, vice president and group publisher, Asia, Northstar Travel Group, described Indonesia as a "sleeping giant" in her opening speech, citing the country's vast population and rapidly expanding middle class.

Irene Chua: “Indonesia is like a sleeping giant.”

"With the world's fourth-largest population and a middle class that is rapidly growing, the potential here is sangat besar (very big)," Chua remarked. She emphasised that the growing interest in cruising presents a "huge opportunity" for expansion and innovation in the market.

Diane Chiang, Director of Sales and Commercial for Asia Pacific at Royal Caribbean International, echoed this sentiment: "We definitely believe that the Indonesia market is, as Irene said, a sleeping giant. We believe remarkable growth from this sector is possible."

Pioneering cruise developments for Indonesia

Resorts World Cruises has taken a significant step in developing the Indonesian cruise market. Michael Goh, President of Resorts World Cruises, announced: "In 2024, we're proud to pioneer the first international cruise line to homeport in Jakarta." Goh noted the positive feedback from cruisers and full occupancy rates, indicating strong demand.

The success of this initiative has paved the way for future developments. "With the successful deployment, we look forward to returning to Indonesia in 2025. This is very significant to drive more consumers towards cruising," Goh added.

Indonesia’s cruise industry growth and challenges

Industry experts highlighted the rapid growth of cruising in Indonesia. Hafez Marican, Area Director for Indonesia at Singapore Tourism Board, predicted: "Cruise holidays in Indonesia would be growing exponentially over the next 5-10 years. If we collaborate with one another, we would be able to tap on this."

From left: Xinyi Liang-Pholsena, senior editor, Travel Weekly Asia; Polin Setiawati, director of sales, Anugerah Wisata Bahari; Michael Goh, president, Resorts World Cruises; Johnny Judianto, president director, Best Tour and Cruise Centre; Pauline Suharno, president, ASTINDO; Irene Chua, vice president and group publisher, Asia, Northstar Travel Group .

However, challenges remain in educating the market about cruising. Michael Goh acknowledged: "The start has been challenging in Indonesia because they don't understand what cruising is. But after we first cruised out, the subsequent cruises are all fully booked."

Johnny Judianto, President Director of Best Tour and Cruise Centre, emphasised the role of travel agents in market education: "In Indonesia, people still don't know what cruising offers. It is the job of travel agents to educate their clients about this option of travel."

Maximising fly-cruises with Sentosa

Junnie Tran, assistant manager for international leisure (SEA) at Sentosa Development Corporation, giving travel agents a crash course on enhancing fly-cruise packages with Sentosa's vibrant array of experiences.

Travel agents also explored how packaging fly-cruises could enhance a traveller’s experience by incorporating Singapore as a key destination. Junnie Tran, assistant manager for international leisure (SEA) at Sentosa Development Corporation, discussed Sentosa’s easy accessibility—just 25 minutes from the airport, 10 minutes from the city, and minutes from both cruise terminals—making it a convenient stop for pre- or post-cruise stays.

Tran highlighted Sentosa’s evolving attractions, from the immersive Sensoryscape and electric go-kart track Hyperdrive to new beach clubs like +Twelve and Tipsy Unicorn. The addition of family-friendly spots like Kidzania Singapore and the Nextgen Cable Cars ensures there’s always something new for visitors to enjoy. These offerings give travel agents opportunities to upsell, adding more value to their clients’ fly-cruise holidays.

Cruises make for one-stop MICE opportunities

Travel agents who handle MICE additionally got insights on how they can leverage cruises for an easy and comprehensive solution to corporate event planning. Cruise ships' all-inclusive nature was highlighted as a significant advantage, simplifying logistics and potentially reducing costs for MICE organisers.

From left: Roy Ardianto, managing director, Celindo Tour; Diane Chiang, director of sales and commercial – Asia Pacific, Royal Caribbean International; Hellen Xu, CEO, Panorama JTB Tours Indonesia

Roy Ardianto, Managing Director of Celindo Tour, highlighted the advantages of cruises for MICE events: "Cruises are a one-stop venue for MICE. With cruises, it's easier for us because the event space is there, the accommodations are there, the restaurants are there, the activities and entertainment are already there."

Diane Chiang from Royal Caribbean International noted the growing demand for cruise MICE events: "We really do see the demand from Indonesia and the rest of Southeast Asia very high for cruises. It could even be as big as 1,500 pax or lesser."

A poll conducted during the event revealed that 82.1% of attendees sell MICE, with 63.3% having pitched cruises to their MICE groups.

Indonesia’s market trends and consumer behaviour

Pauline Suharno, President of ASTINDO, shared insights on travel trends: "Since airfares are so expensive, Indonesians prefer to travel internationally rather than regionally. Demand for international is 14.7%, while demand for domestic is only 4.6%."

Polin Setiawati, Director of Sales at Anugerah Wisata Bahari, noted a shift towards luxury cruises: "Mid-scale and luxury are coming back super strong. Because after the pandemic, people want to travel no matter where they want to go. The mid-scale is moving towards luxury because of health and safety concerns."

Infrastructure development to boost Indonesia’s cruise sector

Vinsensius Jemadu, Deputy Minister for Tourism Product and Events at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia, provided an update on port development: "Komodo for cruise port is still in the process of development and maybe by the end of next year it may be finalised, and we can receive more cruise passengers."

The future of cruising is bright in Indonesia

When CruiseWorld Indonesia’s audience of over 200 was asked if they wanted more training in cruises, it was met with a resounding "Yes!" and enthusiastic cheers.

The overall sentiment at CruiseWorld Asia 2024 was optimistic about the future of cruising in Indonesia. A poll revealed that 38.3% of attendees believe there is high demand and cruises are easy to sell, while 50% report consistent demand.

As the Indonesian cruise market continues to develop, collaboration between cruise lines, travel agents, and government bodies will be crucial in realising its full potential. With continued investment in infrastructure, market education, and product development, Indonesia may soon awaken as a true cruise giant in the region.