Batam is a city in Riau Islands province that is geographically situated very near several neighboring countries. It is a business and service center in the Asia Pacific region, which provides many advantages to attract foreign tourists. Batam has been recognized as an industrial manufacturing area and a tourism area. Its strategic location bordering Singapore and Malaysia makes Batam a favorite destination for foreigners.
Central Agency on Statistics of Indonesia data reveal that 329 tourists visited Batam throughout February 2022, a 37 percent increase from the 240 visits recorded in the previous month. The difference is even greater when compared with February of 2021, amounting to a 108.23 percent increase. Tourists enter the city primarily by its ferry ports, Batam Center Ferry Port and Harbour Bay Ferry Port, with most foreign visitors coming from Singapore.
However, it does not mean that all tourists are from Singapore, as 127 Malaysians also made the trip during the first two months of 2022, 22.32 percent of the total foreign visits. In third and fourth positions are visited by Chinese and Indian tourists, respectively, with 12 visits, 2.11 percent of the total, to Batam during the same period. Moreover, there were also visitors from the Philippines, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries.
While the data show that foreign tourists from these countries have increased this year, the same cannot be said for visitors from France. Cumulatively, foreign tourist visits to Batam City during January-February 2021 amounted to 419 and increased to 569 visits during January-February 2022, an 83.53 percent upturn.
As of April 1, Indonesia and Singapore opened borders and freed quarantine for travelers. The pandemic is no longer a big issue like in 2020 and 2021. All doors in Batam port are opened for foreign travelers, especially from several countries. This policy is expected to increase foreign tourist visits to Batam and is none other than to restore the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.
