Governor Ansar Ahmad Asks Singapore To Open Access For Its Citizens To Enter Riau Islands

Domestic tourists visit Lagoi, Bintan, Riau Islands during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Ogen/Between)

JAKARTA - Governor of the Riau Islands, Ansar Ahmad, asked the Singapore Government through the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Education of Singapore, Mohammad Maliki Bin Oesman, to open access for Singaporeans to enter the area.

According to the governor in Tanjungpinang, Thursday, it is important to pay attention to the Singapore government as a country that is directly adjacent to Indonesia, especially Riau Islands. Moreover, so far the cooperative relationship between the two countries has also been going well, especially in the world of tourism.

The Governor's request is closely related to the planned travel bubble program in the Riau Islands region, especially for the Lagoi tourist attraction in Bintan Regency and Nongsa Marina in Batam City.

"The President of the Republic of Indonesia has again opened the travel bubble for Riau Islands and Bali. We have prepared all the requirements, including the concept of regional quarantine in Batam and Bintan", said the Governor in his communication via video conference with Mohammad Maliki Bin Oesman, reported by Antara, Thursday, October 14.

The governor hopes for Maliki that Indonesia can become a discussion for the Singapore government regarding the travel bubble or foreign tourist visits, especially to Riau Islands.

Ansar also ensured that the COVID-19 condition in this area had begun to improve, where the results of the assessment submitted by the Indonesian Ministry of Health as of October 13, 2021, that the positive rate in Riau Islands had reached 0.3 percent, BOR (bed occupancy rate) 3.01 percent, daily case confirmations have also been confirmed. Daily case confirmations are also in single digits.

In addition, the average tracing of 20 people from one person who was confirmed positive for COVID-19.

"Currently Riau Islands are also at PPKM (Community Activity Restrictions) Level 1 based on an assessment level. I think all the requirements needed for Riau Islands have been met, and we are very ready to accept foreign tourists", said the Governor.

The Golkar politician is also grateful for the assistance provided by the Singapore Government in the form of a sufficient dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine to help accelerate the achievement of vaccination targets in the Riau Islands.

Meanwhile, Singapore's Deputy Foreign Minister Maliki Bin Oesman appreciated the achievements of handling COVID-19 in the Riau Islands, which decreased significantly and improved.

According to him, to open access for foreign tourists between Indonesia and Singapore, especially the Riau Islands region, will be discussed again internally by the Singapore Government.

"The Singapore Ministry of Health and Tourism also followed up by checking data on the development of COVID-19 in Indonesia, especially Riau Islands", he said.