PMI In Malaysia Buys Tickets For Lebaran Homecoming Ships To Batam, Riau Islands Governor: Needs To Be Accommodated, There Must Be Additional Ships

Prospective passengers at SBP Tanjungpinang International Port, Riau Islands. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Governor of the Riau Islands (Kepri) Ansar Ahmad said Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) in Malaysia had bought tickets for the Lebaran homecoming ship to Batam this year.

"Information obtained, ships that usually sail to Malaysia and Batam have been booked by PMI until Lebaran later," said Governor Ansar, quoted by Antara, Sunday, April 10.

Therefore, Ansar proposed that the relevant parties add Malaysian sea transportation routes to Batam, this is to anticipate the arrival of foreign tourists from neighboring countries to this area.

He is optimistic that many foreign tourists will come from Malaysia to Riau Islands through the port gates in Batam and Tanjungpinang, as the travel gates between the two regions have opened.

"In addition to PMI, we also have to accommodate tourists from Malaysia here, so there must be additional ships," said Ansar.

Ansar also asked for the central government's discretion regarding the requirements that foreign tourists from Singapore or Malaysia to enter Riau Islands no longer need to attach proof of a PCR test, because the prices are relatively expensive in their countries.

"Tourists only need to attach evidence of an antigen test when they arrive at the Riau Islands port door," he said.

The former DPR RI legislator also believes that the opening of the Riau Islands-Malaysia sea trip or vice versa, will slowly encourage regional economic growth.

This is because there are three main reasons why Riau Islands residents often travel to neighboring countries, namely to travel, visit family, and undergo medical treatment.

"From Tanjungpinang, the inaugural voyage to Singapore and Malaysia has begun in the last two days. Even though there are still relatively few passengers, I am sure that in the near future, shipping between the two regions can return to normal as usual," said Ansar.