Indonesia Proposes Travel Corridor Between S’pore, Batam & Bintan for Tourists from 21 April

It’s been so long since we travelled that some of us have forgotten what Changi Airport looks like.

Heck, I don’t even know what an airplane looks like anymore.

Our passports have laid sadly in our drawers for the last year, accumulating dust and dirt instead of stamps from sleepy immigration officers.

Our luggage bags have turned into small storage facilities, and all our travel apps have been moved over to our “Things I’ll Never Use” folder.

But don’t give up hope just yet; with more and more countries beginning their vaccinations drives, it may not be too long before we can jet off to a foreign land once again.

Indonesia Proposes Travel Corridor Between S’pore, Batam & Bintan for Tourists from April

An Indonesian minister has announced that preparations for a “safe travel corridor” between Singapore, Batam Nongsa and Bintan Lagoi can begin.

Tourism and creative economy minister Sandiaga Uno proposed in a meeting with officials in Batam on Saturday (20 March) that the travel corridor begins on 21 April.

As the minister noted, Batam Nongsa and Bintan Lagoi were both popular destinations for many Singaporeans before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Uno mentioned that there’s a direct route which connects Singapore’s ferry terminal with Nongsapura ferry terminal in Batam as well as Bandar Bintan Telani ferry terminal in Bintan.

He has personally travelled using these routes and believes both countries can immediately begin preparations for a safe travel corridor.

Need to Present Negative COVID-19 Test Upon Arrival

Like most destinations these days, travellers heading to these two areas will be required to have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result.

They will also be subject to a COVID-19 breath test detector, known locally as GeNose, upon arrival.

GeNose analyzes one’s breath using artificial intelligence technology, offering a much faster and cheaper process. It recently obtained an official distribution permit from the Health Ministry.

Mr Uno added that there will be an application that will allow the authorities to track and trace the movements of tourists.

Vaccination Compulsory in Indonesia

In February, the Indonesian authorities announced that vaccination against the coronavirus will be mandatory for all citizens.

This means people who are eligible for vaccination but refuse can be penalised.

At the moment, 1,500 tourism workers and more than 2,000 people have been vaccinated in Batam and Bintan respectively.

Mr Uno said the target the authorities hope to reach before the proposed travel corridor is 30,000 receipients.

“Let’s spread the good news to Singapore and Malaysia, so they plan their holiday to Batam and Bintan,” he said.

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