Cruise Ship Island Sky Visits Papua, Opens Opportunities for Maritime Tourism Development

The expedition cruise ship Island Sky called at Jayapura Port, Papua, on 5 September. The arrival of this Bahamas-flagged vessel brought international tourists as part of the Corals & Cultures of Indonesia & Papua New Guinea voyage, while simultaneously opening up development opportunities for maritime tourism in Papua.

During their stay in Jayapura, passengers aboard the Island Sky had the chance to visit a number of tourist destinations, including Yobeh Village.

Ramdan Affan Kiai Demak, General Manager of Pelindo Regional 4 Jayapura, stated that the arrival of this international cruise ship can serve as momentum to strengthen Jayapura Port's position as one of the entry points for foreign tourists visiting Papua.

"Visits from international cruise ships such as the Island Sky are a driving momentum for Jayapura Port to continuously improve service quality and operational readiness, in support of growing maritime tourism across Papua," he stated.

The Island Sky measures approximately 90 metres in length with a gross tonnage of around 4,200 GT. The vessel docked in Jayapura as part of a cruise itinerary connecting tourist destinations across Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

The arrival of cruise ships like the Island Sky demonstrates how sea routes can form an integral part of the tourism experience in Papua. Tourists do not remain solely aboard the vessel; they also disembark and explore mainland destinations during the ship's port call.

"Last Saturday we welcomed a visit from the Bahamas-flagged expedition cruise ship Island Sky, operating the Corals & Cultures of Indonesia & Papua New Guinea tour itinerary," he added.

For Jayapura and the wider Papua region, this travel model creates space to develop integrated maritime tourism packages that connect the port with various destinations. This potential will grow even further when connectivity, tourist facilities, and visitor services are developed collaboratively.

According to Ramdan, Papua holds very significant potential for tourism connectivity. However, realising this development requires supporting port services as well as cross-stakeholder collaboration.

One direct benefit generated from cruise ship visits is boosted economic activity around tourist destinations. When tourists disembark and visit local attractions, this creates opportunities for local business operators to offer their goods and services.

"Cruise ship visits are not only related to port operations. They can also open up economic opportunities for local communities and business actors through the tourism sector," he explained.

For this reason, cruise tourism development cannot rely solely on port readiness. Pelindo, government authorities, tourism operators, local communities, and all other relevant stakeholders must work together to build a seamless visitor experience, starting from the moment tourists arrive at Jayapura Port through to their visits to all destination sites.

This collaboration is required to ensure cruise ship visits deliver broader benefits for the people of Papua. Destinations such as Yobeh Village can not only become a featured stop for international visitors, but also provide a platform for local communities to showcase their unique natural and cultural heritage.

"We will continue to drive improvements in service quality and collaboration across all stakeholders, so that Jayapura Port is increasingly prepared to receive international cruise ship visits, and deliver a positive experience for every tourist coming to Papua," he concluded.