The number one person in Batam City stated that the tourism industry is one of the important sectors that can boost regional economic growth.

With the ongoing infrastructure development, Rudi is optimistic that foreign tourist (wisman) arrivals will also increase in the future.

“I am preparing a new Batam city for all of us. The readiness of the existing infrastructure will make Batam attractive to the international community, especially foreign tourists who want to travel,” said Rudi on the sidelines of a meeting with the community on Tuesday (18/7/2023).

Rudi also supports the implementation of large-scale international events in Batam City. This, he continued, is a promotional opportunity to attract the interest of foreign tourists to Batam City.

For your information, foreign tourist visits to Batam City throughout May 2023 reached 77,348 visits.

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Batam City noted that the number of these visits also had an impact on the occupancy rate (TPK) of star-rated hotels in the Riau Islands Province, which was 41.89 percent, or an increase of 5.09 percent from the previous month.

Tourists from Singapore continued to dominate visits to Batam City, accounting for 56.46 percent, or 43,662 visits, of the total number of foreign tourists during May 2023.

“Batam's highly strategic location is a crucial asset for boosting the community's economy. Our economic resources are clear, ranging from investment in the electronics industry, the tourism sector, and much more. Therefore, we require support to prepare Batam's planning to become a developed and modern city,” he concluded. (DN)