Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal, which is completed and ready for operation, will connect travellers from Singapore, and eventually the Riau Islands of Batam and Bintan, to the destination (Photo: Desaru Coast)
In an effort to help visitors commute between Singapore and Desaru via a sea Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL), resort company Desaru Coast Destination Resort — which encompasses a portfolio of globally renowned hotels and resorts namely Hard Rock, The Westin, Anantara and One&Only — has appointed Desaru Link Ferry Services, a subsidiary of ferry operator Batam Fast Ferry.
The announcement, which was made in a joint press release by Desaru Coast and Batam Fast, came in a timely manner as Malaysia would open its borders on Apr 1, and enter the “Transition to Endemic” phase of Covid-19.
As of now, there will be two round trips from Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal to Singapore’s Tanah Merah ferry terminal, on Thursdays to Sundays; as well as a round-trip to Mondays to Wednesdays based on demands. The resort will be expecting a deluge of holidaymakers as the ferry can carry between 150 and 338 passengers.
oneonly.jpg
According to a report by Channel News Asia (CNA), a spokesperson for Desaru Coast revealed that “the commencement of services between Singapore and Malaysia is dependent on border regulations of both countries and approval from both countries' maritime authority.”
Roslina Arbak, managing director and CEO of Desaru Coast Destination Resorts, also commented that "(An) international entry point such as this will bring multi-layered economic and social benefits to communities and businesses in the South Eastern Region of Johor."
For the time being, VTL has been implemented with Singapore since November 29, last year, involving both land and air routes.
To find out more about the ferry terminal at Desaru Coast Destination, read our cover interview with Roslina Arbak in Options this week (Mar 7, 2022) issue.
