Indonesia Eyes Bigger Role in Global Cruise Industry Workforce

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is stepping up efforts to enhance the competitiveness of Indonesian workers to meet the growing demand of the global cruise industry through the Ambassadors’ Dialogue: Unlocking Indonesia’s Potential in the Global Cruise Industry Workforce, held in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The event brought together representatives from partner countries’ embassies, particularly those from the European Union, as well as cruise industry players, educational institutions, training and certification bodies, and relevant ministries and agencies to discuss opportunities and challenges in the global cruise sector.

In his remarks, Vice Foreign Minister, Arif Havas Oegroseno, said the cruise industry is a rapidly expanding global sector that requires skilled workers across various fields, ranging from hospitality and culinary services to engineering and operational management.

“The cruise industry is a growing global sector that requires qualified professionals in various fields, including hospitality, culinary services, engineering, and operational management,” Arif Havas said in a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

According to him, Indonesia has proven its ability to produce competent, adaptive, and competitive human resources capable of meeting international labor market demands. Meanwhile, Vice Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, Christina Aryani, said Indonesia is ready to meet global labor demands and has a vision to develop into a global talent hub.

“Indonesia is ready to meet global workforce needs and has a vision to grow as a global talent hub,” she said.

She noted that Indonesia possesses strong human capital, with more than 108,000 vocational high school graduates in hospitality, over 21,000 students enrolled in maritime vocational schools, and more than 5,600 graduates from merchant shipping vocational programs who have the potential to fill positions in the international cruise industry.

Participants in the dialogue highlighted the importance of strengthening English language proficiency among prospective cruise ship workers, improving the quality of vocational education and training to align with industry needs, addressing mobility bottlenecks, and enhancing governance and protection mechanisms for Indonesian migrant workers to ensure safe, legal, and sustainable placement.

Ambassadors and representatives of partner countries welcomed the initiative and expressed their readiness to strengthen collaboration, including in language training and skills development that meet international industry standards. They also explored closer cooperation between Indonesian educational institutions, training centers, and industries and their counterparts in European countries.

Besides, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to strengthen synergy among the government, businesses, educational and training institutions, and international partners to expand the placement of skilled Indonesian workers in the global cruise industry and other strategic sectors.