An Indonesian lawmaker has called for the immediate development of a roll-on roll-off (RoRo) ferry service connecting Dumai, Riau Province, with Malacca, Malaysia. This initiative is seen as crucial for attracting more tourist visits from Southeast Asian nations, especially as an alternative to a decline in visitors from European and American countries.
Hendry Munief, a member of Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), emphasized the realistic potential of pursuing short-haul tourism from neighboring countries. He stated on Monday that developing an international sea route in Riau provides a viable alternative to bolster the tourism sector amidst fluctuating global oil prices.
The proposed Dumai-Malacca RoRo route aims to enhance accessibility, which is expected to boost both tourist arrivals and investment in Indonesia. Munief highlighted that the ASEAN market, with its significant Malay population, shares strong cultural ties with the Malay community in Sumatra, making this market particularly receptive. Beyond tourism, the RoRo route could also support the industrial sector due to potentially lower transportation tariffs. The Trans-Sumatra toll road was also noted as important infrastructure for supporting tourism across the island.
Globally, the tourism industry is currently grappling with the repercussions of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. These tensions contributed to the closure of Iranian airspace from February 28 to March 28, 2026, causing significant flight disruptions.
The airspace closure resulted in cancellations for approximately 770 flights destined for Jakarta, Bali, and Medan from six major international aviation hubs: Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Medina, and Muscat. This development is projected to cause an estimated loss of around 60,000 foreign tourist visits to Indonesia, potentially leading to unrealized foreign exchange earnings of approximately Rp2.04 trillion (US$119.85 million). The RoRo service is thus presented as a strategic move to mitigate such impacts by diversifying tourist source markets and transport options.
Source: Original
