Tag Archives: Batam

Myths and history of Belakang Padang Island

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Belakang Padang Island rises from the waters of the Singapore strait. (JP/Fadli) A myth says that those who go to Belakang Padang Island will have their yearnings met. Thus, a romantic nickname was born: “Penawar Rindu“, the island that soothes longing hearts. Riau province, which is close to Singapore, consists of 108 islands. Only 43 of them are inhabited. Situated six nautical miles from Singapore, the people of Belakang Padang Island can easily see the skyscrapers of the city-state, such as Marina Bay Sands. Going to Singapore from Belakang Padang takes about 15 to 20 minutes on a speed boat. Boats for … Continue reading →

The Magic of Three Thousand Riau Islands

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Located in the province of the same name, with more than 1.200.000 inhabitants and around 3.000 incredible islands and islets, the Riau Islands are listed among the main tourist attractions of Indonesia not only because of their stunning nature but also because of their rich culture. Breath-taking beaches, incredible jungles, ancient temples as the marks of the different religions, and amazing hotel accommodation are only some parts of the diverse tourist offer of Riau Islands.   Introduction to Riau Islands The main part of Riau population consists of people with Malay or Javanese origins. Most of them are Muslims, and … Continue reading →

Indonesia tourism push: Focus on Jakarta, Bali, Batam, Bintan

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Indonesia will focus on Bali and islands near Singapore rather than developing more remote spots in the world’s largest archipelago, as it seeks to double tourist numbers by 2020. The government’s marketing budget has been increased fourfold to 1 trillion rupiah ($75 million) this year, a sign of President Joko Widodo’s commitment to the industry, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said in a Bloomberg interview on June 23. That money will be spent promoting Bali, Jakarta and the islands of Batam and Bintan close to Singapore, which generate about 90 per cent of the country’s revenue from international tourists, he said. … Continue reading →