Monitoring The Arrival Of Singaporean Tourists In Batam, Minister Of Home Affairs Tito Asks The Riau Islands Provincial Government To Tighten Health Protocols

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian and Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad when reviewing the arrival of Singaporean tourists in Batam. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian is directly monitoring the condition of Singaporean tourists who are starting to get busy at Nongsapura Port, Batam City, Riau Islands (Kepri).

Tito wants to ensure that the central government's policies are implemented based on local government proposals so that tourists can return to visit Riau Islands, one of which is Batam.

"With the opening of tourist entrances in Riau Islands, especially in Batam, Bintan and Karimun, I think tourists from Singapore and Malaysia have started to notice. Moreover, to enter Riau Islands, they only need to do an antigen test," Tito said, quoted by Antara, Friday April 15th.

According to him, the central government has also set several convenience policies in the context of accelerating economic recovery in the tourism sector in Riau Islands, but still implementing strict health protocols considering the COVID-19 pandemic still has to be evaluated from time to time.

Tito said he was happy with the convenience policy for foreign tourists entering the Riau Islands, because it was proven that the policy was starting to have a positive impact on the tourism world in Riau Islands.

"Hopefully the number of foreign tourists will return, and the economic recovery will be faster," he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Ansar Ahmad hopes that the tourism sector in Riau Islands can recover quickly, so that the economy will bounce back and people can live in prosperity.

His party always asks the central government regarding matters concerning the convenience policy for foreign tourists who will enter the Riau Islands.

"Alhamdulillah, the central government has responded quite well to what we have conveyed. Now all the entrances for foreign tourists have been opened, the convenience of only antigens has also been implemented. Hopefully this policy will have a good impact on the Riau Islands tourism world," said Ansar while accompanying Minister of Home Affairs Tito's visit in Batam.