Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal, the final component of the phase one development of Desaru Coast Destination Resorts in Malaysia is now completed.
It is equipped with a Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex and maritime facilities, as well as the latest bidirectional immigration automated e-gate. The new generation e-gate offers a double swing door and enhanced security features, making immigration screening more efficient and effective at peak travel times.
The ferry terminal is able to process 300 passengers at any given time, and it intends to serve two round trips from Singapore on Thursdays to Sundays, and one round trip on Monday to Wednesday based on market demand.
Earlier in March, Desaru Coast Destination Resorts appointed Desaru Link Ferry Services to operate passenger ferry services connecting Singapore’s Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal with Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal.
Speaking at its officiating ceremony on March 31, Amran Hafiz Affifudin, chairman of Desaru Development Holdings One, said: “As a long-term developer, entrusted to play a central role in the tourism landscape of Johor, it has been our commitment and responsibility to bring value to the community and state. While we developed the ferry terminal as a connectivity and catalytic component for Desaru Coast to realise its full potential as an international destination, it is our hope that it will foster wider benefits for the state of Johor. In establishing this international gateway as the 16th entry point into Malaysia, we hope to spur and multiply the socio-economic development for the state and subsequently the country.”
With the completion of the Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal, the destination is ready to execute its strategic and commercial plans in its next phase of business growth.
Roslina Arbak, managing director and CEO of Desaru Development Holdings One, said the ferry terminal is a “game-changer”, enabling the destination to “unlock new market and business opportunities”.
She expects the improved connectivity to boost Desaru’s ability to capture business events and attract “like-minded investors who wish to leverage the infrastructure and facilities we have put in place to further enhance destination offerings and ensure the success of all players at Desaru Coast”.
The 13m-long vessel, currently berthed at Marina At Keppel Bay, offers two air-conditioned cabins, a fully-equipped galley with refrigerator and microwave oven, a karaoke room with good sound system, and a flybridge at the upper deck that offers panoramic views and a spacious lounge.
Personalising the travel experience for consumers when it comes to booking is essential, however, fears over data sharing across sectors is hampering development, key industry players warn.
The future of data sharing was debated at Travelport’s recent The Future of Travel Retail conference, where speaker Anand Lakshminarayanan, senior vice president, revenue optimization at Emirates, said: “Data sharing is important to try and give customers what they want.”
He noted that in aviation, there has been a recent shift from price for seats to price for the customers. This can be seen in the introduction of bundle packages tailor-made for passengers.
“To achieve this, we need to know all of the information and data about that customer. This information also helps us to serve those customers during disruptions, like we’ve seen for the last two years,” he added.
Lakshminarayanan said the challenges caused by pandemic-induced flight cancellations, border closures and other rapidly-changing restrictions were further enhanced for the airline as they often only had agents’ details and not passengers’. This made it difficult to directly communicate and offer top-notch customer service during stressful times for passengers.
Raj Patel, chief operating officer at Sky Bird Travel & Tours, said trust was an issue, with customers reluctant to share their data. “Airlines and other travel operators want to understand their customers but more than 70 per cent of passengers don’t believe their data helps us.”
Fears over privacy is a huge hurdle that needs to be overcome. Lakshminarayanan said: “This is a big responsibility. We need to make it a priority to protect customers’ data and give them absolute confidence that their data is safe with us.”
Sharing data among travel sectors would also vastly improve the travel experience for consumers. Jennifer Catto, Travelport’s CMO, said it is essential the industry moves towards a more collaborative model to offer more personalised and seamless experiences.
However, she noted hesitancy. “There is a reluctance to share information for fear of competition, despite the fact everyone knows it would be for the best. I think this will continue to be a discussion that evolves.”