When The Bintan Resort Area Is Ready, Sandiaga Is Optimistic "Travel Bubble" Awakens Bintan Tourism

Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

BINTAN - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno is optimistic that the application of the travel bubble will revive the tourism sector in Bintan, Riau Islands (Kepri), which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has prepared a travel bubble scheme in Batam and Bintan for the past year," said Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno while inspecting the Port of Bandar Bentan Telani, quoted by Antara, Friday, January 21.

Bandar Bentan Telani is the only entry point for foreign tourists in the travel bubble scheme implemented in the Bintan Resort area, Lagoi, Bintan.

Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno saw firsthand the preparations in the Lagoi tourism area which will receive direct foreign tourists from Singapore starting on January 24, 2022.

Sandiaga accompanied by the GM of PT Bintan Resort Cakrawala Wahab and Governor Ansar Ahmad simulated all the steps that tourists would take when entering the port of Bandar Bentan Telani.

Sandiaga Uno checked the PCR swab test booth, tried the PeduliLindung QR Code, checked body temperature, and checked immigration.

It is estimated that during the implementation of the travel bubble, Bandar Bentan Telani will receive 500 foreign tourists from Singapore on 8 trips per day. Before the pandemic period, Bandar Bentan Telani was able to receive 2,400 foreign tourists on 12 trips per day.

Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno stated that the Bintan Resort area was ready to start the travel bubble which the government would announce soon.

"I declare here that Bintan is ready for travel and a bubble. Later I will report it to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, so that it will be announced soon," said Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno.

In addition, he also advised that the management of Bintan Resort while implementing the travel bubble could cooperate with MSMEs to offer their processed products to foreign tourists, considering that MSMEs are also one of the sectors affected during the pandemic.

"Creative economy products can be offered to tourists to generate jobs. I think this is right on target, right on benefits, and on time," he said.

Meanwhile Governor Ansar said the travel bubble became an important momentum after two years of tourism in Riau Islands being very sluggish due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

"We will carry out Minister Sandiaga's input. Hopefully, all of this can be evaluated successfully, so we can expand this travel bubble again," said Ansar.

Ansar also asked for support from the Riau Islands community because in Bintan there will be a prestigious event, namely a leaders retreat between President Joko Widodo and Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong on January 25, 2022.

"Hopefully this event will be a sign of President Jokowi's seriousness on tourism in Bintan," said Ansar.