The Governor of the Riau Islands accompanied the Minister of Transportation of Indonesia in inaugurating the Special Tourism Terminal PT. Tritunas Sinar Benua & One°15 Marina on Nirup Island, Batam. During the occasion, The Minister stated that the tourism area on Nirup Island has reached an international standard. He expressed the hope that it would continue to be developed, bringing a good reputation to the Riau Islands in particular and Indonesia as a whole. The geographical location of the Riau Islands, close to Singapore and other neighboring countries, should be utilized. He urged for simplified regulations and other facilitations in terms of licensing.
Nirup Island itself is located in the Belakang Padang District, approximately 8 nautical miles from Singapore. With the introduction of luxury tourism on Nirup Island, catering to international tourists as well as providing accessible recreational options for local tourists, it is expected to have a domino effect on the economic growth and development of the local community. The presence of tourism on Nirup Island will also create job opportunities for the local population, and it will be complemented by the revitalization of tourism on Belakang Padang Island. Therefore, proper access has been prepared. With its strategic location, the tourism potential of other islands in the Riau Islands, such as Nirup Island, can be maximized. He also explained that tourism access facilities for visiting the Riau Islands can be reached through various gateways, such as Hang Nadim International Airport, Raja Haji Fisabilillah International Airport, Batam Centre International Port, Sekupang International Port, Sri Bintan Pura International Port, Nongsa Poin Marina and Bandar Bintan Telani Lagoi. In the first quarter of 2023, the economic growth of the Riau Islands reached 6.51%. As for international tourist arrivals in the Riau Islands, in 2023, from January to May, the number of international tourist arrivals in the Riau Islands reached 558,436.
