TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 2023 Chinese New Year holiday attracts tens of thousands of foreign tourists to Batam. The Immigration Examination Office of Batam Class I Immigration Office recorded 25,596 foreign tourists entering the city during the 2023 Chinese New Year holiday period.

Number of Foreign Tourist Visits During Chinese New Year

Head of the Batam Class I Immigration Office Subki Miuldi said that there has been an increase in the number of foreign tourists visits during the Chinese New Year by 40 to 50 percent compared to regular days. "The increase of foreign tourist visits to Batam occurred at the international port," Subki said on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

Subki explained that on Saturday, January 21, 2023, the number of foreign tourist visits had reached 14,052 visits. Meanwhile, on Sunday, January 22, and Monday, January 23, 2023, the number of foreign tourist visits had reached 7,794 and 3,950 visits, respectively. In total, the number of foreign tourists that visited Batam reached up to 25,596 people.

During regular days, Subki said that the number of foreign tourists visiting Batam average at 1,000 to 2,000 people. "The visiting tourists are mostly from Singapore, and Malaysia," Subki said.

The high number of tourist visits were apparent in every international port in Batam, such as the Batam Center International Port, Harbour Bay International Port, Sekupang International Port, and Nongsa Pura International Port.

Batam Immigration Officers Number Increased

In relation to the increase of foreign tourist visits, the Batam Immgiration Office implemented special measures such as exercising stringent travel document examination and adding more officers in every port. "Usually there are one thousand passengers per day. Now we add more personnel in every port," Subki said.

Batam becomes one of the location with largest Chinese New Year celebration in Riau Archipelago. Several events held to celebrate Chinese New Year includes the China Town Imlek Festival Batam at Nagoya Citywalk, where thousands of people gather to celebrate Chinese New Year.

YOGI EKA SAHPUTRA