Indonesia's island resort of Bali will soon have a modern and permanent port for foreign cruise ships.

The Bali Provincial Transportation Office hopes that after the completion of the port, foreign cruise ships passing by will take a few days to make a port call at the Indonesian island.

At least 300 luxury cruise ships, each with 1,500 to 2,000 tourists, arrive in Singapore every year after mostly bypassing Bali.

It has been estimated that even if half of the 300 cruise ships made port calls to Bali, it would have a positive impact on the tourist industry in the province, as well as on the local economy.

The new modern port for cruise ships will be built on the site of the old port of Karangasem, and should be ready in 2009.