THE INDONESIA-MALAYSIA-SINGAPORE GROWTH TRIANGLE (IMS-GT) AND ITS IMPACT ON THE FERRY TRANSPORTATION IN THE RIAU ISLANDS.

Abstract

THIS THESIS EXAMINES THE INDONESIA-MALAYSIA-SINGAPORE GROWTH TRIANGLE (IMS-GT) AS WELL AS ITS IMPACT ON THE INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC FERRY TRANSPORTATION IN THE RIAU ISLANDS ESPECIALLY SINCE THE LATE 1980S. THE IMS-GT, OFFICIALLY STARTED IN 1989 IN ANOTHER NAME, BROUGHT ABOUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO RIAU ISLANDS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE FERRY NETWORKS EXPANDED AND THE NUMBER OF FERRY TRIPS INCREASED STEADILY UNTIL APPROXIMATELY THE BEGINNING OF THE 2000S. SUBSEQUENTLY, THEY WERE AFFECTED BY EXTERNAL FACTORS SUCH AS THE DETERIORATING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND AN INCREASE IN THE FUEL PRICE BESIDES THE COMPETITION TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT WITH OTHER AREAS. SOME OPERATORS LEFT THE MARKET, WHILE SOME OCCASIONALLY COLLABORATED IN VARIOUS WAYS TO WEATHER A STORM. THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCES, RIAU ISLANDS BEGAN TO FUNCTION AS THE HUB OF THE FERRY TRANSPORTATION IN DISTANT AND NEIGHBORING ISLANDS IN INDONESIA AND NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRESS OF THE IMS-GT FACILITATED AN EXTENSIVE FERRY