Bintan, Riau Islands (ANTARA) – Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno highlighted that the government is finalizing discussions on reducing the price of Visa on Arrival (VoA) to attract foreign tourists to visit Riau Islands Province.”In the near future, we will announce tariff reduction on VoA, not only for Singaporean or ASEAN tourists but also for expatriates from other countries to visit Riau Islands with more affordable price,” he stated during his working visit to Bintan, Riau Islands, on Sunday, September 17. He noted that the VoA tariff reduction is expected to increase the quantity and quality of foreign tourist visits to Riau Islands, especially in Bintan. ccording to Uno, so far, the quality of foreign tourist arrivals to the Riau Islands, in terms of length of stay, is relatively short. Moreover, some foreign tourists came by fast boat from Singapore to Lagoi and then returned on the same day. In future, the length of stay is targeted to increase to bring multiplier effects, including improving the welfare of local residents, he stated. Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer of Bintan Resort Cakrawal (BRC), as manager of the Lagoi tourist area, Abdul Wahab, remarked that foreign tourist visits to Bintan Island were still low after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: Antara News Agency