Recently, we've seen a lot of discussions on travel borders reopening between Singapore and several destinations like Australia and Taiwan. If you've been missing your weekend beach getaways in Batam and Bintan, here's some good news! Both tourist areas are planning to reopen to foreign tourists from 21 April 2021. That's according to the Governor of the Riau Islands, Ansar Ahmad when he spoke to the media.
According to a report by Kumparan Travel, the governor mentioned that one of the countries that have been targeted for tourist visits is Singapore as Batam and Bintan are mostly visited by tourists from Singapore. The Riau Islands Provincial Government says that it has received support from the central government. In addition, talks between Singapore and Indonesia are also underway.
Lagoi in Bintan and Nongsa Point Marina Batam are one of the main gateways for foreign tourists, especially those from Singapore. Both of these areas have been equipped with health protocols as well as supporting facilities and infrastructure to carry out activities with new norms.
There have also been efforts to revive the tourism sector in Batam in Bintan and to ensure that they are ready for the new normal. One of them is the gradual implementation of the Covid-19 vaccination which will start next week. Apart from those working in the tourism sector, a portion of the local community who meet the requirements will also be vaccinated.
Another initiative is the use of the Covid-19 PCR test. The relevant authorities also plan to integrate PCR tests with the Genose testing system used at train stations in the tourist areas of the Riau Islands. The Genose test is more affordable, easier to use and has proven effective at detecting Covid-19.
Credit: Montigo Resorts on Facebook
Meanwhile, Indonesia's Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno also mentioned that the area was ready to implement a travel corridor for tourism purposes with Singapore during his visit to Bintan sometime ago. The Singapore government has not announced anything regarding a travel bubble between Singapore and Batam-Bintan.
Bintan and Batam are currently already open to domestic tourists. Bintan is one of the most popular beach destinations in Indonesia, especially for Singaporeans and Johor residents. There are several beachfront resorts that are a favourite among tourists, such as Cassia Bintan, Angsana Bintan, and Banyan Tree Bintan.
If you're already thinking of your future trip there when borders reopen, check out our list of exciting activities in Bintan!