One of the latest countries to recognize the tourism-driven economic impact of yachting is Indonesia. This year, it has become dramatically easier for megayachts to make their way into its waters. In fact, shoreside-support agency Asia Pacific Superyachts reports that the clearance changes have slashed entry costs in half.
The company says that it has been providing information to the Indonesian government for some time about the benefits of yacht visitors. In fact, its Asia Pacific Superyachts Indonesia division has helped more than 300 yachts and megayachts with clearance into the country over the past decade. “When we started, our clients were classified as a military threat,” says Richard Lofthouse, director of Asia Pacific Superyachts Indonesia. “To say it was a challenge is a massive understatement. But our clients’ experiences were so mind-blowing, they kept coming back. We have gradually established an industry and a true yachting destination in Indonesia. We are sincerely grateful to the Government of Indonesia for recognizing and adapting policy to help yachting in Indonesia to grow.”
The Indonesian government adopted the following regulatory changes:
- eliminating the CAIT (Cruising Application for Indonesia Territory): previously, a one-month lead time was required for foreign yachts to obtain cruising permits. Now, Asia Pacific Superyachts says it can process permits within 24 hours, once it has all proper passport information and documentation from your yacht.
- streamlining clearances: Asia Pacific Superyachts says that 90 percent of the job is already done by the time your yacht comes to the country. All that’s needed upon entry is for your yacht to be inspected briefly and for your captain to sign paperwork.
- eliminating the PIB, an import declaration that could have cost yacht owners up to 48 percent of the cost of their vessel: while yacht owners could substitute a guarantee letter from a licensed Indonesian company for the past several years, now neither is required of yachts.
Asia Pacific Superyachts Indonesia’s operations manager Thomas Taatjes says that the team initially wasn’t sure what the cost reduction from all of these changes would be. After a few yachts came in, the team calculated it was 50 percent. “Not only is the whole process faster, it is also far cheaper,” he comments.
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