Riau Islands are one of the best places to visit in Indonesia.
There are three reasons why more tourists should come to the Riau islands:
- The archipelago is already the third most popular destination for international visitors after Bali and Jakarta;
- It could become the gateway to Indonesia’s marine tourism sites thanks to its proximity to Singapore where many yacht clubs and cruise ships dock;
- It is part of a busy cross-border region thanks to people crossing from Singapore to Batam, Bintan and Tanjung Balai Karimun.
And also at the region still has some way to go before it can become a favorite tourist destination in Indonesia.
Tourism Minister said there will be many upcoming international events to promote marine tourism in the area, because tourism in the islands can benefit from regional cooperation programs between the ASEAN countries.
He also said the islands’ government needs to start boosting its tourism industry to reduce its reliance on raw commodities to drive the economy.
“Riau Islands used to be the biggest crude oil producer in Indonesia, but now they should shift their focus to tourism,” the minister said.
Riau Islands Governor pointed out the unique potential of some of the islands in the archipelago, for example, the rich marine tourism in Anambas Island.
