Pekanbaru, Riau, April 6 -- An Indonesian lawmaker urged the government to immediately carry out the development of the roll-on roll-off (RoRo) ferry service from Dumai, Riau Province, to Malacca, Malaysia.

Such development is needed as Indonesia is seeking more tourist visits from Southeast Asian neighbors as an alternative to the decline in European and American tourist visits, according to Hendry Munief, a member of Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI).

"The potential for short-haul tourism, such as those coming from Southeast Asian countries, is very realistic to pursue at this time," he said in a statement on Monday.

Amid unstable and rising global oil prices, developing an international sea route suc...