Riau Islands hopes to attract 1.2 million international tourists in 2023

Monday, February 20, 2023

In keeping with the improved post-pandemic environment, the Riau Islands province administration in Indonesia hopes to attract 1.2 million international tourists in 2023.

Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad said that the target can be met because international tourist arrivals in 2022 to the Island surpassed 700,000 which is a significant rise from 3,103 in 2021.

“Before the pandemic, Riau Islands’ (yearly) international tourist arrivals stood at around 2.5 million. However, we need to be realistic now, considering that tourism has just started to revive,” he said in Tanjungpinang on Sunday.

He highlighted that tourism in the province was down during 2020-2021 period as a result of the epidemic. Nevertheless, in mid-2022 with the opening of the country’s borders to international tourists, the tourism started to revive.

Ahmad further stated that the lifting of public activity restrictions (PPKM) in late 2022 has aided in the revival of tourism in the Riau Islands.

“The main entry gates to Riau Islands for international tourists are ready to welcome them, such as Tanjungpinang, Batam, Bintan, and Karimun,” he said.

The governor stated that the administration will explore answers to challenges that may prevent international tourists from visiting the Riau Islands. One of the government’s endeavours would be to propose elevating Tanjungpinang Raja Haji Fisabilillah (RHF) Airport to international-scale status. Cross-country air access can therefore be obtained, given that 400,000 foreign visitors from China are expected to visit Lagoi, Bintan District, this year.

Afitri Susanti, Head of Development and Marketing at the Riau Islands Tourism Office, stated that her office has prepared a tourism calendar to increase the number of international tourist arrivals in 2023.

She indicated that the tourism calendar for this year continues to rely on local knowledge, such as nature, culture, sports, and marine tourism.

In addition, international-scale events will be staged in the province, including the cycling race Tour de Bintan, which was attended by hundreds of athletes from 33 nations earlier in 2022.

Susanti stated that her office is actively working to promote tourism in the Riau Islands by engaging with associations, as well as local and foreign travellers.

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