Batam Targets 1.25 Million Tourists in Year 2013

Batam City Government targeting foreign tourists to visit the area as many as 1.25 million people in 2013, an increase compared to 2012 some 1.2 million people.

"Target 2013 as many as 1.25 million foreign tourists," said Head of Batam City Tourism Yusfa Hendri in "focus group discussion" Tourism 2013 at Batam Riau Islands, on Thursday.

Improvement targets, he said, along with the improvement and enhancement of infrastructure and various events organized to attract tourists to Batam.

For example, he said, the tourism area around the barelang  bridge I that built by central government in 2012, is now ready to use so it is expected to absorb more foreign tourists.

In the same place, Head of Tourism and Culture Riau Islands Province Guntur Sakti said the government had inaugurate the barelang bridge I as a tourist place in December 2012.

According to him, since the central government  develop the region, many entrepreneurs who are interested in building a business that supporting tourism.

"The Barelang bridge 1 area development is the government's efforts to 'triger' tourism in Batam," he said.

In addition to revamping the Barelang bridge I,   in 2013 the central government and the local government is also planning to develop the Abang island as a tourist destination.

The island is a national strategic area was developed into the dive and "snorkeling" because it has the beauty of marine life.

The government also increased the budget for infrastructure by means of improving the quality of roads to pamper tourists.

In addition to the infrastructure improvements and the addition of object tourism facilities, local governments cooperate Tourism Ministry also held a variety of events that are expected to bring in tourists in Batam Art Cultural them in September 2013, the Food and Culinary Festival.

"It was a parade procession at midnight in the Nagoya area," said Thunder.
Regarding constraints, Guntur said Batam facility has not had a safe and convenient transportation when transportation is one of the basic facilities that should be provided in the area of tourism.

"Batam need safe and convenient transportation," he said.