Lack of Foreign Tourists in Riau Islands Unrelated to Ferry Fares, Tourism Observer Says

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno explained two crucial issues that caused the declining tourist visits to the Riau Islands. The two major obstacles are the incomplete progress on Visa on Arrival (VoA) and the high price of Batam - Singapore ferry tickets.

Tourist visits to the Riau Islands have only reached 70,000, far below the government’s 3 million target. 

Responding to the minister’s statement, tourism observer Siska Mandalia said ferry fares are unrelated to the lack of tourist visits to the Riau Islands.

"Tourists don't mind the prices since vacations are about spending excess money,” Sisa told Tempo on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

Siska said foreign tourists are likely to pay no mind to the Singapore-Batam ferry tickets. “The ferry ticket price is relatively cheap,” she said. 

According to Siska, the lack of foreign visits to the Riau Islands is related to accessibility, amenity, and attraction. “The problem doesn’t lie in ticket prices, but what Indonesia offers to tourists. Tourists will pay close attention to three things before going on vacation; the access, amenities such as hotels and restaurants, or attractions, such as events, natural view, and culture,” she said.

So, she concluded, ticket prices are a small part of the problem. 

Siska said the government must re-position itself by conducting research or surveys to find the real reason why foreign visits are declining. "We can see why the number of foreign tourists is declining and why they prefer to go to Thailand,” she said, noting that viable measures can be taken after the research. 

"But the VoA regulation could be the cause of the slow increase in foreign tourist visits to the Riau Islands," she said.

YOGI EKA SAHPUTRA

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