Henry Lim has been appointed general manager of Park Regis Singapore.
In his new role, Lim will be responsible for overseeing the hotel’s business performance and spearheading key initiatives.
The hospitality veteran brings with him over three decades of experience in hotel and apartment operations, product innovation, portfolio expansion, talent development and owner relations.
His previous stints include roles at several international hotel chains including Sheraton, Hilton, Regent, Shangri-La, Crowne Plaza; and serviced apartment brands such as the Ascott and Oakwood; in countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore.
Going on a holiday with the family is always a tricky balancing act — especially if you have children with you. Too much of the cultural stuff and the kids will be bored to tears; on the other hand, you can’t spend all your time at an amusement park. The adults will get bored, and yes, possibly the kids too!
The trick is to mix it up and find things that everyone would like to do. Discovering new things is also a great way to spend the holidays. Mauritius is a great choice to spend family holidays. From outdoor fun like snorkeling or playing on the beach, to fishing to whale- and dolphin-watching to cultural excursions exploring the island’s rich history and shopping, we’ve got you covered.
Surrounded by beautiful beaches, Mauritius is the perfect getaway for families who love the water. We recommend Trou aux Biches, which is clear, shallow and calm — perfect for swimming with little ones who may not be experienced swimmers yet. It’s also a great beach to introduce the kids to snorkeling. Feeling peckish? Along the coast road are food stands that serve delicious local food as well as a cafes and restaurants to tickle your tastebuds.
Nature trekking
Tired of swimming? Ile aux Cerfs has many activities to occupy the kids. One of the most popular ones is the Treetop Adventure Park, which has obstacles suitable for kids and adults — great for building up kids’ confidence and skills.
For a more adventure-packed vacation, head to Le Domaine de l’Etoile. This 1,200-ha former sugar plantation has every adventure you could dream of. Native forests, lush valleys, and dense vegetation make for an exciting place to explore. Try the longest zipline in the world, if you dare! Choose from seven ziplines, with the longest a breathtaking ride 3,500 metres above stunning views. If driving through stunning landscapes and lush vegetation is more your speed, try quad biking, to observe deer, exotic birds and boar or ride a buggy in the evening with the whole family, to see animals in the wild. Le Domaine de l’Etoile also has horseback-riding, hiking, archery and a host of other fun activities.
Go quad biking, trekking, Segway or a 4×4 discovery tour in Frederica Nature Reserve, which is Mauritius’ own little Garden of Eden. The reserve covers 1,300 ha of picturesque views and pristine vegetation just begging to be explored. For conservationists, the reserve is protected under the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, which ensures that sustainability and eco-efforts are practiced in the resort.
For a truly unique and unforgettable experience for the whole family, you can book a helicopter sight-seeing tour to enjoy a bird’s eye view of Mauritius.
You can try the Mauritius Helicopter Ltd where you can book tours ranging from 15 minutes to one hour and they can even customise a tour for you.
For the tour, you’ll be taking off in Bell Jet Ranger helicopters equipped with 4 passenger seats — perfect for a small family! You’ll get to see amazing landscapes, lush forests, beautiful beaches as well as many other spectacular views.
For a one-stop shop of adventures, try Casela World of Adventures, the most visited attraction in Mauritius. Casela is situated atop sugarcane fields, with the Rempart Mountain as the backdrop. The park has many wholesome family-centric adventures that you and the kids will love — from an African Safari, encounters with big cats, riding dry toboggans and to scenic ziplines. It’s the perfect place to swim with dolphins in the morning, ride a camel at noon and walk with lions in the afternoon
Located in a small village, the Mauritius Aquarium is home to over 200 species of fish, invertebrates, live coral and sponges, all of which come from the waters around the country. But what’s unique about the museum is the ocean floor walk, where you can observe the island’s rich marine life up close. Some of the species you will get to see include the crown squirrelfish, the Devil Firefish as well as thrillingly, several species of sharks!
Mauritius is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One is the La Morne Cultural Landscape, which includes the distinctively shaped Le Morne Brabant, a mountain where runaway slaves known as “maroons” used to escape for shelter during the 18th and 19th centuries, forming small settlements near the summit and caves. The mountain is a potent symbol of the country’s past and how the slaves fought for their freedom. Today, the area is more known as a tourist destination because of its beauty. It is also known as the only place where the country’s national flower, the Trochetia Boutoniana, can be found.
Did you know that Mauritius was the first British colony to receive indentured labourers when slavery was abolished? This period in history can be found in the Aapravasi Ghat, the original immigration depot from where modern indentured labourers were processed. Following the abolition of slavery, the British government began the “Great Experiment” of having indentured labour, and Mauritius was the first colony where this was implemented. Half a million immigrants arrived on the island between the mid-19th to early 20th century to work in the sugar plantations. These labourers come from many parts of the British Empire and most Mauritians can trace their ancestry from this diaspora. Today, less than half of the original site can be seen, but what exists — kitchens, lavatories, a hospital block and housing shacks — shed an important light into Mauritian history.
However, for a slice of local life, nothing beats going to Port Louis’ Central Market in the early morning, when the action is. The market was — and is — an important part of locals’ lives. Back in the day, this was where folk gathered to buy their daily necessities, trade, and find out what the news (i.e., gossip) was. Today, it is still a focal point of life in the capital, Port Louis. Head to the first floor, where the craft market is. This is where you can buy colourful textiles, artisanal sculptures and various fruit preserves. Want to sample a local drink? Then this is the place to go. Various blends of local rums are sold in the market. The market’s food court is also a great place to sample Mauritian cuisine. The scent of frying noodles, fritters, roti, various curries and dumplings will tempt you to sample all that’s on offer. Chase it all down with a refreshing alouda, an ice-cold milk-based drink served with agar-agar and psyllium grains (a natural laxative).
Taking place every Thursdays and Sundays in the daytime, the Quatre Bornes flea market is where locals shop. The claim is that here, you can find anything and everything — from Indian saris, to the latest in sunglasses to souvenirs. Don’t be afraid to haggle for the best price.
LET’S PLAY GOLF! With its lush scenery, great weather and luxe accommodations, Mauritius is a dream golfers vacation. Here are our picks. For a slice… Read More
KALEIDOSCOPE WORLD Nature photographers will be mesmerised by the vibrant colours, fabulous views and greenery of Mauritius. Here’s where to go on this picturesque island… Read More
Last word
Though by no means definitive, this guide to where to go in Mauritius with your family should provide you with a great start to explore this beautiful island.
Air Mauritius is the National Airline and operates three direct flights weekly. The seven hour flight from Changi to SSR International airport is done using the all new Airbus A330-900 NEO which features state of the art technology in safety and comfort.
Japan’s thriving whale watching industry faces upset following the country’s resumption of commercial whaling after a 31-year ban, according to tour group operators.
Tokyo withdrew from the International Whaling Commission and began whaling in its coastal waters (up to 22km from land) on July 1, in a controversial move that has sparked criticism from activists and anti-whaling countries.
Japan’s return to commercial whaling comes at a time when the whale-watching business is gaining traction; whale-watching in Okinawa pictured
The move is at odds with Japan’s whale-watching industry, which is estimated to have grown 20 per cent annually since it began in the 1980s, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). In 2015, whale watching across the country generated US$8 million, of which 20 per cent came from overseas visitors, including corporate incentive groups.
Tour operators fear that Japan’s resumption of commercial whaling threatens not only the whale watching industry but also wider tourism in departure ports.
Tomoyo Yamada of South to South in Okinawa’s Urasoe City told TTG Asia that any drop in group numbers would adversely impact tourism in the city.
“Whale watching is a winter activity so marine tourism operators here rely on it during the off season,” he said.
Similarly, tour operators in Rausu, a fishing village on the island of Hokkaido, fear that the move will hurt business, at a time when the whale watching business is beginning to gain traction and business from overseas groups for the town’s five operators is growing year on year.
Masato Hasegawa, captain of Shiretoko Nature Cruise, told TTG Asia that 10 per cent of his bookings hail from overseas groups from Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Hawaii and Germany, but he fears for the future.
“I am worried about the reaction of customers who are sensitive to whaling. We expect that the number of reservations from current groups will fall, particularly those from Europe and the US,” Hasegawa said.
He added that it is “necessary to train English-speaking staff to respond effectively to questions about Japan’s commercial whaling from overseas customers in the future”.
Patrick Ramage, IFAW’s director of marine conservation, said: “Coastal whaling threatens to kill the geese that literally lay the golden eggs. (Japan’s commercial whaling) puts Japanese whalers on a collision course with their country’s economic interests and committed businesspeople in coastal communities who are benefiting from this new relationship with whales.”
Blockchain is disrupting the travel ecosystem and helping to streamline processes and solve major pain points in an often fragmented industry.
Pilot initiatives such as the blockchain-based travel app, Known Traveller Digital Identity (KTDI), will create a more seamless passenger journey at immigration points, while consumer services such as Tripio are harnessing blockchain technology to restructure hotel booking protocol.
From left: Blockchain Centre Singapore’s Shruti Dwivedi, Asia Tourism Consulting’s Wong Soon-Hwa, and Tembusu Partners’ Lau Wen Loong discuss the application of blockchain in travel and tourism at the Blockchain in Travel: Discover the Possibilities seminar organised by OMT Group, Chang You Travel Alliance and IXX.com
That, and more, was the common refrain among industry experts at the Blockchain in Travel: Discover the Possibilities seminar held in Singapore on December 20, which spotlighted the potential applications of blockchain to benefit the travel industry.
The event was organised by OMT Group, one of South-east Asia’s largest tourism groups, in collaboration with Chang You Travel Alliance, a data-sharing platform employing blockchain technology, and IXX.com, the world’s first digital asset trading community.
For instance, Shruti Dwivedi, general manager, Blockchain Centre Singapore, cited two case studies – KrisPay and Tripio – that leverage blockchain to transform customer engagement.
KrisPay, Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) blockchain-based digital wallet, allows KrisFlyer frequent flyer programme members to convert air miles into digital currency. This can then be used to pay for items almost immediately at SIA’s merchants in Singapore, including gas stations, beauty product retailers, and F&B outlets. The blockchain is privately-owned by SIA and only network partners can transact on it.
Wong Soon-Hwa, founder and CEO of Asia Tourism Consulting, noted: “This is one way how SIA can convert under utilised points into value for itself and its partners, which would also help improve bottom lines for companies as middlemen are not required.”
Wong pointed out that blockchain isn’t really a product, and is perhaps better described as a service, or “piping hidden behind the walls”. But simple as the process may sound, a “huge mindset shift is also needed to make use of blockchain”.
Elsewhere, three-year-old Tripio is the first blockchain-based travel booking marketplace which has 450,000 hotels on its platform. With blockchain in play, Tripio helps hotels to avoid the problems of high commission fees charged by OTAs, false reviews, and inaccurate updates on room status which may cause problems for the traveller upon check-in.
“By using blockchain, the money paid by the customer gets logged into a smart contract (a self-executing contract with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller being directly written into lines of code). When the services are rendered – depending on the outcome of the service – the money will then be transferred to the service provider,” said Dwivedi. In the event of disputes, the money goes into dispute resolution.
On the backend, blockchain can also be used for more efficient payments between service providers such as airlines and rental car companies, boosting operational efficiency as well as baggage handling; while governments may also be able to use it for KTDI.
In terms of baggage tracking, companies will now be able to track the origin of an asset, all the way to its end point. Blockchain makes it easier to trace a piece of baggage, as it has a decentralised database, which makes it easy to share data across several parties.
Meanwhile, KTDI is a joint initiative by the World Economic Forum, Accenture, the Canadian and Dutch governments, and Marriott International, that aims to create a more seamless experience for travellers by using blockchain to solve the exchange of identities and verification.
“What KTDI does is that it enables partners to have links to travellers’ identities on the blockchain, as opposed to direct identities (such as passports). This makes data privacy and security stronger, and allows real-time sharing of data on a very secure network with encryption, hence the data is impossible to hack,” Dwivedi said.
Aside from allowing travellers to decide who they want to share the data with and how it’s going to be used, KTDI will enable its partners to access verifiable claims of a traveller’s identify to access their credibility and optimise processing through security channels.
“Once I have been approved by multiple countries that I’m a fairly safe or decent traveller, these attestations can become my reputation, which would make my travel experience smoother,” thereby, translating to lesser visa applications and paperwork, Dwivedi noted.
She added: “What blockchain can really offer is the improvement of customer service. It can be done in different ways, but at the end of the day, it helps to make the life of a traveller much more convenient, and their overall experience, a lot more pleasant.”
“Will blockchain succeed (in the travel industry)? A resounding yes. I’m not sure how long it will take, but many are increasingly embracing it in the travel and tourism industry. While its final form or shape may differ, blockchain is here to stay,” concluded Wong.
This year’s FHA-HoReCa, a specialist industry show for hotel, restaurant and cafe suppliers, will debut the Hospitality 4.0 pavilion, a platform for solution providers and start-ups to demonstrate innovative technologies, and visitors to learn best practices from subject experts.
Conceptualised by WY-TO, the Hospitality 4.0 pavilion will be a human-centric, sustainable vision of how disruptive technologies, robotics, VR, and AI will be seamlessly integrated to enhance the personal experience.
This year’s FHA-HoReCa will debut the Hospitality 4.0 pavilion where guests can experience innovative technologies catering to the hospitality industry
Featuring biophilic and futuristic design inspired from nature, the pavilion offers a range of diverse spaces and experiences:
• Start-up Village – a community of creators and innovative businesses displaying new solutions such as 3D food printing, self-service equipment, waste management systems and more within the HoReCa sector
• Showcase areas – product and service demonstrations such as service robots, AR menus to remote controlled kitchens within the hotel, kitchen and restaurant segments
• Dreamcatcher Theatre – industry thought leaders will share insights on topics ranging from design to new technologies, sustainability to market opportunities and trends
Another new highlight at the event is the Hotel Innovation Challenge Asia 2020, organised by FHA and the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA), with strong support from the Singapore Tourism Board. Start-ups and entrepreneurs will get to pitch their proposed solutions to potential adopters on the show floor. The challenge seeks to solve perennial issues such as housekeeping, manpower crunch, service delivery and sustainability faced by the hotel sector through innovation.
Margaret Heng, executive director, SHA, hopes the challenge will birth “many new and exciting ideas and solutions that the industry can adopt to enhance guest experience and help hotels meet the manpower shortage”.
Hyatt Hotels is expanding its luxury portfolio, with more than 20 new hotels and resorts expected to open worldwide by end 2020.
The Park Hyatt, Andaz, Alila, Grand Hyatt, Miraval and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brands will welcome new additions.
Hyatt to grow luxury portfolio with 20 properties in its 2020 pipeline, including the Hôtel du Palais Biarritz
The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand, which is seeing its strongest growth to date in Europe, will be joined by the Hôtel du Palais Biarritz in France, which is due to reopen in June 2020 after an extensive renovation.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2020, the Park Hyatt brand is also a key contributor to Hyatt’s luxury portfolio growth, with five Park Hyatt hotels having recently opened or are expected to open by 2020. Coming on this year are Park Hyatt Auckland (2020), Park Hyatt Jakarta (2020), Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono in Japan (2020), and Park Hyatt Suzhou in China (2020).
The Alila family is expanding too, with three luxury resorts expected to open: Alila Dalit Bay in Malaysia (2020), Alila Hinu Bay in Oman (2020), and Alila La Gruyère in Switzerland (2023).
In addition, seven Andaz branded luxury lifestyle properties have recently opened or are due to open. Joining Andaz Seoul Gangnam in South Korea and Andaz Dubai The Palm, both of which opened last year, are Andaz Bali (2020); Andaz Shenzhen and Andaz Xiamen in China (2020); Andaz Palm Springs in the US (2020); and Andaz Prague (2022).
The Grand Hyatt brand is also set for continuous growth with new openings this year in the Shenzhou Peninsula in China; Kuwait; Gurgaon in India; Jeju in South Korea; and Nashville, Tennessee; along with the first Grand Hyatt hotel in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Miraval Berkshires Resort and Spa in the US, which is set to open this year, will mark the brand’s entry into Massachusetts.
The cruising industry is making a deeper commitment to responsible tourism practices, with a focus on environmental sustainability and destination stewardship, according to the 2020 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook report by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
The report highlighted the industry’s US$22 billion investment in the development of new energy efficient technologies, partnerships with local governments in key destinations, and a commitment to reducing its rate of carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2030, compared to 2008.
Sustainability key priority for cruise industry in 2020: CLIA
“While demand for cruising has reached new heights, the cruise industry is accelerating our efforts to be a leader in responsible tourism,” said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO, CLIA. “Our members are at the forefront of best practices designed to protect the sanctity of the destinations we visit and enhance the experiences of travellers and residents alike.”
With a projected 32 million passengers to set sail in 2020, CLIA Cruise Lines is gearing up to meet ongoing demand by scheduling to debut 19 new ocean ships in the upcoming year, resulting in a total of 278 CLIA Cruise Line ocean ships projected to be in operation by the end of 2020.
Industry growth results in positive economic progress in communities around the world, said CLIA in a statement. Cruising sustained 1,177,000 jobs equaling US$50.24 billion in wages and salaries and US$150 billion total output worldwide in 2018, according to the report.
As well, the newly released CLIA 2018 Global Economic Impact Analysis found that passengers spend US$376 in port cities before boarding a cruise and US$101 in each visiting port destination during a cruise. North America accounts for the highest rate of cruisers with 14.2 million North Americans cruising in 2018.
“The industry’s economic impact is a big part of the story, especially as it relates to our passengers’ contributions to local economies and the diverse workforce onboard our ships,” said Craighead. “We recognise that with growth comes increased responsibility to raise the bar in all aspects of what we do to ensure cruising remains a force for good and the best way to experience the world.”
Here are some of the cruise industry trends going into 2020, according to the State of the Cruise Industry Outlook report:
1. Environmental Sustainability: The development and identification of new technologies and cleaner fuels is a top priority for the cruise industry, which continues to make substantial investments in reducing environmental impact. CLIA’s most recent Environmental Technologies and Practice Report shows significant progress towards the adoption of new and innovative practices, while the industry continues to explore new ways to increase efficiencies.
• Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) – 44 per cent of new-builds will rely on LNG fuel for primary propulsion
• Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (ECGS) – 68 per cent of global capacity currently utilises EGCS, while 75 per cent of non-LNG new-builds will have EGCS
• Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems – 100 per cent of new-builds will have these systems in place
• Shore-side Power – 88 per cent of new-builds will have or be configured to add this ability
• Additional Areas of Focus – battery propelled vessels, advanced recycling practices, reduced plastic use, energy-efficient lighting, solar energy, and fuel cell
2. Destination Stewardship: With increased demand and growth in the cruise industry comes responsibility to foster respect and cooperation with cruise destinations. In collaboration with local communities, the cruise industry is exploring new and creative ways to manage the flow of visitors and implement the highest standards of responsible tourism including partnerships with local governments, staggered arrivals and departures, excursion diversification, shoreside power and local passenger spending.
3. Cruise and Stay: More travellers are spending time in and near cruise ports. In fact, 65 per cent of cruise passengers spend a few extra days at embarkation or debarkation ports.
4. Reduce Single-Use Plastic: Travellers are taking sustainability to the seas. The study found that more than eight of ten cruise passengers recycle (82 per cent) and reduce using single-use plastics (80 per cent) while travelling. Seven out of ten cruisers also forego plastic straws.
5. Generation Cruise Positive: The attitude around cruising is changing, no matter the generation. More than 66 per cent of Generation X and 71 per cent of Millennials have a more positive attitude about cruising compared to two years ago.
6. Lone Cruisers: Marriage rates are declining and the number of single adults is growing globally. As a result, cruise lines are responding to the shift in passenger demographics by offering studio cabins, single-friendly activities, eliminating single supplements and solo-lounges.
7. Micro Travel: Trip durations are continuing to change, with many travellers looking for quick trips. Cruise lines are offering bite-sized cruises over a three- to five-day period offering shorter itineraries to a variety of destinations.
Vietnamese boutique cruise operator Heritage Line has launched its first wellness-centric ship plying Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam.
The 10-suite luxury vessel Ylang features a floating spa with a full range of therapies, and onboard meditation and tai chi.
Heritage Line launches new wellness-centric luxury cruise Ylang on Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam
Occupying half of Ylang’s upper deck, the spa is comprised of three private rooms, a cosy compartment for reflexology treatments, a sauna, steam bath and a wellness studio. Treatments are conducted using organic spa products from French cosmetics brand Thalgo.
The holistic theme also extends to onboard activities such as special singing bowl meditation and early morning tai chi lessons on the upper deck of the vessel.
Guests can enjoy accommodation in suites with a private balcony, in-room lounge area and bathroom.
Andreas Schroetter, Heritage Line’s director of sales and marketing, said: “Not only is (Heritage Line’s Ylang) the first ultra-luxury vessel sailing a three-day itinerary in Lan Ha Bay, it is also one of the first ships in this destination that fully conceptualises a journey focused on wellbeing.”
She added: “Lan Ha Bay is a very special place. It’s every bit as beautiful as Halong Bay, but the peace, quiet and isolation makes it more of an exclusive and relaxing destination. That’s why we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to tailor Ylang specifically to the wellness market.”
Offshore expeditions during the Lan Ha voyage include soft hiking and cycling on Cat Ba Island, and kayaking on the emerald waters of the bay.
The ship’s onboard restaurant serves multi-course lunches and dinners featuring light Vietnamese cuisine, as well as vegetarian options and customised meals for guests with specific dietary requirements.
Christian Nannucci has been named the new general manager of Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, Cebu.
The Italian native has 25 years of hospitality experience, with an extensive background in hotel operations and sales. Nannucci’s career has taken him to some of the world’s top cities, including London, Paris, Abu Dhabi, and most recently, Kuala Lumpur.
Indonesia makes no secret of its economic ambitions. The country’s president Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was elected to a second term this past May, and within a matter of weeks, the Indonesian government’s Ministry of National Development Planning announced that it would target increased economic growth of around six per cent per year.
One area where Indonesia is looking to boost GDP is the tourism industry, which is among its most promising growth sectors. Tourism is big business in Indonesia, and a major area of focus for the government as the influx of visitors, particularly from Malaysia and China, continues to grow.
Ramachandran: outlook for Indonesia’s tourism industry very positive with many plans in motion
In 2016, during Jokowi’s first term, he recognised the importance of tourism and spent time seeking overseas investment to help execute his government’s plan to create 10 new Balis.
Given the global reputation and success of Bali, this seemed a sound strategy. Yet, in the two years since the plan was announced, the initiative has struggled to get the traction many would have liked. In particular, the lack of clarity over specifics of the plan is causing potentially damaging frustration in some stakeholder sectors.
But looking at the scale of the government’s ambition from an engineering standpoint, it’s easy to understand why more detailed plans have yet to be published. The size and complexity of the task can make it seem impossible to know where to begin, but at a fundamental level, it starts with planning and vision.
In this article, we’ll put an engineering lens over some of the biggest challenges for the expansion of Indonesia’s tourism sector and discuss some of the major considerations for the country in bringing the plan to reality.
Perfecting the landscape Indonesia is blessed with some of the most beautiful and unspoilt islands in the world, and not only that, plenty of them. While this naturally makes them ideal as tourist destinations, their remote location, coupled with almost no existing infrastructure, makes it a daunting task to transform them into easily accessible hot spots. This is where a solid approach to master planning is required. Creating a clear and targeted plan for developing new resorts is a good start – but what are some of the key considerations? Here, we’ll look at some of the most important, including water, power, climate, and investment.
From an engineering perspective, when it comes to infrastructure, we need to recognise that even the most basic set-up is lacking across wide parts of Indonesia. In some cases, surprisingly so.
Water Consider, for example, that the national capital Jakarta does not have proper water infrastructure (although the process of creating one has begun). The majority of the city’s water is drawn from boreholes and is directly linked to the city’s much-publicised sinking. To grasp Jakarta’s water issues is to truly understand Indonesia and the infrastructure challenges it faces in delivering the next level growth for its current and future towns and cities.
Power In addition to the water challenge, there is the issue of providing a stable and secure power supply. This remains an ongoing challenge, with the country’s entire power infrastructure needing substantial investment if it is to support economic growth. In the remote locations targeted for development, ensuring there is an established power infrastructure will be one of the top priorities. While luxury hotel groups will need little persuading of the attraction and potential of Indonesia’s islands, they will not begin work on multi-million-dollar resorts until they can see a steady and reliable power source established.
The good news is that the energy mix continues to evolve, with affordable and environmentally-friendly options playing a bigger role than ever before. For example, elsewhere in South-east Asia, Aurecon helped deliver the Dau Tieng 1 and 2 solar power plants in Vietnam, bringing much-needed electricity to two nearby cities. At 420 MW, it’s currently the largest solar power plant in the region and was built in just under a year.
Creating these types of independent microgrids is an attractive option for many remote locations, with solar, wind, hydro or waste-to-energy technologies capable of pairing with energy storage and more traditional power sources to ensure necessary capacity levels are met.
An example of this principle at work can be seen at the 5MW Battery Energy Storage System in Alice Springs, Australia, where Aurecon was the technical advisor from development to implementation. It is one of the most innovative grid-connected storage solutions available and serves a remote location similar to that of the islands Indonesia aspires to develop. Incorporating a higher level of renewable power into local developments offers the added benefit of making it easier to attract visitors and investment from large global companies, including luxury hotel groups.
Geology and climate For the issue of geology and climate, additional considerations are needed for Indonesia. Natural dangers such as earthquakes, volcanoes and extreme weather events present challenges for engineers all over the world, but the unique local conditions of Indonesia require extra attention. At Aurecon, we have a long history of engineering resilient assets for even the most volatile of environments, and we understand this work is not only about looking to the past but designing for an unknown future. As technology and engineering design advances, so does our ability to create structures that provide safeguards and early warning systems to alert guests and inhabitants.
Investment Another consideration around development and project management is finance. Although Indonesia has a large population of over 260 million, the country is short of income. It still functions primarily as a cash economy, so its tax income to GDP ratio is relatively low and that means private sector and international investment will be required to drive the proposed tourism development. The most likely solution will be a public-private partnership (PPP) approach, with much coming via foreign direct investment (FDI).
However, there are still many elements to resolve around this, as PwC noted in its latest Indonesian Infrastructure report. Some of the key challenges include an uncertain legal framework for projects, procurement processes that are not always clear and transparent, and the fact that different public organisations may be uncoordinated and have conflicting goals.
On top of this, many public agencies do not have the budget for the high-quality project preparation required from international consultants to bring these developments to life. As well, there remains a high regulatory burden on companies operating or constructing projects, and this naturally has a negative impact.
Yet despite all that, we can already see evidence of some initiatives that will help deliver higher FDI levels. For example, an announcement earlier this year of an increase in the tax threshold for buying housing in Indonesia is certainly a step in the right direction. If similar measures follow and we see a stronger PPP focus at a governmental level, then the issue of financing could become much smoother in future.
Master planning for success Ultimately, the success of any future development is going to come down to having the right approach to project management, and especially, master planning. An important element of this will be the practice of zoning and staging. This refers to completing work in specific zones and stages to deliver the earliest possible usability, while keeping in mind plans for future expansion. It’s important to consider this, because it is essential to achieving the financial viability of projects and building momentum around the tourism focus.
Let’s consider the example of a new resort town. In addition to hotels and residential blocks, there may be golf courses, water parks, retail malls, and more. Sound master planning will assess the correct process for bringing this collection of individual developments to life, understanding the local market and the clients who have the resources to develop which assets at which time. At Aurecon, we have experience in this process at countless locations, including, for example, Yas Acres in the Middle East.
The interesting part about zoning and staging is that plans change frequently, or governments and developers don’t know exactly what they want in one area until another is complete. So, agility and flexibility are key. For companies working in this area, it’s important to never consider the job finished simply because the final invoicing is complete.
Instead, it is vital to keep talking to clients about potential next stages and looking at concept designs or environmental studies to determine the best options. Every discussion about future development should start with identifying the target and what is needed to achieve it.
Sustainability matters Sustainability remains top of mind in all business sectors, and engineering is no different. Perhaps most interestingly, when it comes to construction and development, in many cases, the funding available (particularly western financers) is easier to come by for projects that can demonstrate their sustainable credentials.
This issue is particularly relevant with regard to power and energy, one of the core pillars of infrastructure development. In this case, the issue is becoming increasingly consumer-driven. For example, in Bali, locals are taking a stand against the expansion of a local coal-fired power plant and the drive is for a greater percentage of the energy mix to come from renewable sources.
Yet at the same time, Bali remains susceptible to power outages so striking the right balance requires careful planning and ongoing assessment, particularly given the island is still reliant on neighbouring Java for part of its power requirement, delivered via underwater cables.
When it comes to considering what are the most reliable power supply options for new, remote resort locations, there is no single answer. Often, there will be no existing power supply, with local people relying on diesel generators instead.
While investors will be attracted to supporting new renewable energy initiatives, it is unlikely these can be built at sufficient scale to meet demand. It is likely we will see more interest in LNG-based power plants, and even future fuels like hydrogen, given the fact they offer lower emissions levels while still offering capacity similar to coal-fired power plants.
Bringing 10 new Balis to life While there are undoubtedly many challenges ahead in developing Indonesia’s tourism sector, the overall outlook is hugely positive. There’s no doubt the country has the potential to become one of the world’s leading tourist hot spots. And with clever engineering planning and a strong focus on sustainability, we could see Jokowi’s vision for 10 new Balis come true.
