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Riau Islands could be next Bali: Minister
Tourism Minister Arief Yahya has stated his opinion that Riau Islands province has the potential to match the countryâs most popular destination, Bali, in tourism
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T
ourism Minister Arief Yahya has stated his opinion that Riau Islands province has the potential to match the country's most popular destination, Bali, in tourism.
On the sidelines of a visit to Batam, Arief said that the beaches in the province had the same characteristics as those on the island of gods.
'Riau Islands has a good chance of attracting more tourists because of its strategic location; it is near Singapore and Malaysia,' he said on Friday as quoted by Antara news agency.
The people of Singapore and Malaysia have strong purchasing power and are keen travelers; for that reason, Arief argued, the province needed to improve its infrastructure and carry out aggressive marketing strategies to attract more Singaporeans and Malaysians.
In addition, he said that Riau Islands' location was crucial since the two neighboring countries were Southeast Asia's favorite destinations for tourists from across the globe.
'Singapore alone is a big market because 40 million people travel to Singapore annually,' he explained, adding that global travelers should visit Batam, Bintan or other destinations in Riau Islands before returning home.
Moreover, he said that he had asked Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan to upgrade the airports and seaports of the province to enhance its connectivity.
Riau Islands head of tourism Guntur Sakti said that his office was constantly working to increase the number of travelers to the province.
According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data, Riau Islands is the third-largest contributor to the nation's tourism, after Bali and Jakarta. (nfo)(++++)
