On 24 January, holiday hotspots Batam and Bintan were reopened to visitors from neighbouring Singapore, as Indonesia continues to emerge from the shadow of Covid-era travel restrictions. Following the reopening of Bali last October, the return of these popular islands to the inbound tourism landscape is the latest in a string of developments giving the industry reason for optimism in the months ahead.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo officially approved the new corridor between the Riau Islands and Singapore, known as the Batam Bintan-Singapore (BB-S) route, on 22 January following a series of inspections and safety preparations enacted by the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy over the past year.
“The President has agreed to start the implementation of the BB-S travel bubble as a prototype to start the economic opening, especially tourism in a limited and controlled scheme,” confirmed Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, via a virtual coordination meeting held on Wednesday, 19 January 2022.
Approved by the Head of Indonesia’s Covid-19 Handling Task Force, the new travel corridor with Singapore offers a glimpse of what post-pandemic travel in the archipelago will look like; to enter Indonesia, visitors must be fully vaccinated and insured against Covid-19, and also pass rapid tests upon arrival. Provided they meet the entry requirements, these travellers can enjoy their holidays in Batam and Bintan without the need for quarantine.
Access to the Riau islands is now open via the twin ports of Nongsapura International Ferry Terminal, for the travel bubble area in Nongsa Sensation in Batam; and Bandar Bintan Telani Ferry Terminal, for the travel bubble area in Lagoi Bintan Resort in Bintan. To enter the islands, visitors must present their vaccine certificates and tourism visa, along with the results of a negative RT-PCR test, taken in their country of origin no more than 72 hours prior to departure. Body temperature checks and a further RT-PCR examination will be implemented upon entry to each travel bubble.
In terms of insurance, foreign nationals must show they have minimum coverage of 30,000 SGD, which includes Covid-19 care and medical evacuation if needed. Proof of booking at an approved accommodation provider will also be required. While enjoying their holidays in Batam and Bintan, travellers can also use the government-approved track and trace apps, called PeduliLindungi and Bluepass. These user-friendly services will help them prove their health credentials at inspection points, access up-to-date travel information and check-in to tourism sites with minimum hassle.
Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, recently confirmed that more locations are expected to follow Bali, Bintan and Batam in the months ahead, as Indonesia continues is progress towards a nationwide revival of international tourism.
