The Sarawak state administration has given the green light to build a dedicated cruise‐ship terminal at Damai, near Santubong, with the aim of attracting larger international liners and boosting the state’s tourism revenue. According to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, the new facility will feature a modern passenger terminal, immigration and customs processing areas, baggage handling systems, shore‐power connections, and provisions for provisioning and waste management—amenities that leading cruise lines now view as essential.

Site selection studies are complete, and detailed engineering designs are in the final stages. Construction is slated to begin in the third quarter of next year, with a target completion date in late 2026. The total investment is estimated at RM350 million, to be jointly financed by the Sarawak state government and private‐sector partners through a public‐private partnership.

Once operational, the Damai port will be capable of accommodating vessels up to 300 meters in length, doubling the capacity of the current Kuching River cruise jetty, which only handles smaller river‐cruise ships. Abang Johari emphasized that having a deep‐water terminal so close to the city allows liners to berth directly rather than cruising past Kuching on their way to other ports. Passengers disembarking at Damai will enjoy convenient transfers—between 30 and 45 minutes—to Sarawak’s key attractions, including Mount Santubong, Bako National Park, the cultural villages of Santubong, and the highlights of Kuching city.

State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah noted that the new terminal forms part of Sarawak’s strategy to grow cruise arrivals from about 60,000 passengers last year to over 200,000 by 2030. “This project will position Sarawak as a must‐visit port of call in Southeast Asia,” he said, adding that the development will create hundreds of jobs in construction, port operations, hospitality, and tour services.

Local tour operators have welcomed the announcement, observing that their current capacity is often stretched during peak cruise‐ship seasons. They believe that direct calls by larger vessels will enable new itineraries—such as multi‐day cruises linking Sarawak with Sabah, Brunei, and Kalimantan—and spur increased onshore spending in the greater Kuching area.

Environmental assessments for the Damai terminal are underway, focusing on protecting the adjacent mangrove forests and ensuring that any dredging or construction work minimizes impact on local marine life. State officials affirm their commitment to international best practices, including shore‐power emissions controls and robust waste‐management protocols.

If all goes according to plan, Damai’s cruise‐ship terminal could welcome its first international liners in the fourth quarter of 2026, marking a significant milestone in Sarawak’s push to become a top cruise destination in Malaysia.

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Note: This article was auto‐fetched from trusted news sources. Information is for general reference only. Always verify project details, pricing, and investment decisions with licensed agents or official developers.