TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Indonesia tees off on golf tourism as Singapore courses dwindle
The city state’s land crunch has led to the closure of many of its public golf courses, including the recent shuttering of the Marina Bay Golf Course, its last public 18-hole course, prompting enthusiasts to seek golf vacations overseas.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Indonesian golfer Kevin Caesario Akbar (Courtesy of Astragraphia)
I
ndonesia aims to become a top golfing destination in the region as Singapore has been shutting courses, providing a void for neighboring countries to fill.
The city state’s land crunch has led to the closure of many of its public golf courses, including the Marina Bay Golf Course, its last public 18-hole course, last weekend, prompting enthusiasts of the sport to seek golf vacations overseas.
“As Singapore has become more expensive and less affordable, we could provide [a golf tourism destination replacement] in Riau Islands, which has geographical proximity,” said Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno on Monday.
Read also: Great revival: How Indonesians propelled Como 1907 back to Serie A
Indonesia could position Riau Islands, the third-largest entry point for tourists after Bali and Jakarta, as the country’s golf tourism hub.
Located less than an hour’s ferry ride from Singapore, the province is home to seven private and three public golf courses on Batam and Bintan Islands, respectively.
Furthermore, demand for golfing has been growing in Indonesia, with the minister pointing out increased interest from both international tourists and domestic players flocking to courses in Jakarta and Bali.
