Indonesia will reopen Batam and Bintan to Singaporeans who are completely vaccinated

[ASEAN NOW Content Team]

 

The popular Indonesian holiday islands of Bintan and Batam are finalising plans to reopen their coastlines to leisure tourists from Singapore after a two-year hiatus owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Indonesian government is now ready to launch the travel bubble, according to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, who claimed on Monday (Jan 24) that Covid-19 instances on the two islands are under control.

He claimed that the bubble's requisite protocols had been implemented.

 

Mr Airlangga stated, "The Indonesian government is pushing the construction of a travel bubble connecting Batam, Bintan, and Singapore... This will help promote tourism."

He did not provide a timeline on when the restaurant might reopen.

The declaration came ahead of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's and Indonesian President Joko Widodo's Leaders' Retreat on Tuesday.

 

Travelers from Singapore are permitted to enter Indonesia via the Nongsapura ferry port in Batam and the Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal in Bintan under the terms of the agreement.

 

According to a directive issued by Indonesia's Covid-19 task team, they must be properly vaccinated and have spent at least 14 days in Singapore prior to their arrival.

They must also present a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test obtained within three days of departing Singapore, as well as a positive PCR test when they arrive in Indonesia.

Travelers may only go to the immigration counter if they test negative upon arrival.
The waiting time for test results is not specified in the circular.

 

Those who test positive but have no or minor symptoms will be sent to an isolation facility.
Those who have moderate or severe symptoms will be sent to the hospital.

Other criteria under the travel bubble include a vacation insurance package that covers $30,000 in hospital treatment for the travellers.

 

On November 29, Singapore launched a unilateral vaccinated travel lane (VTL) with Indonesia.

Following an increase in Covid-19 cases in Indonesia, that VTL later imposed quarantine for travellers from that nation, according to Ms Pauline Suharno, secretary-general of Indonesia's travel agency organisation.

 

Port employees at the Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal in Bintan were putting the finishing touches on the final touches to welcome Singaporeans and ensure they travel safely, according to a Straits Times investigation on Sunday and Monday.

Reverse transcription PCR test stations have been set up at the ferry terminal.
There are also standing billboards encouraging visitors to download the PeduliLindungi app, which is Indonesia's version of Singapore's TraceTogether app, to help with contact tracing.

 

Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view