Indonesia’s tourism minister has recognized the Riau Islands as a chief vacation spot for golf tourism, significantly noting the benefit with which golfers from Singapore can entry the islands by ferry. As Singapore contemplates the optimum use of its restricted land by shuttering golf programs, Indonesia goals to draw these golfers and fill the regional void.
Riau Islands holds important potential with ten present golf programs and extra on the best way, in response to Minister of Tourism and Artistic Economic system Sandiaga Uno in a briefing on July 1. “We encourage the event of golf tourism as a result of, in Singapore, it’s getting dearer and never inexpensive anymore,” Mr. Sandiaga acknowledged. Golf lovers contemplating the golf odds will discover the Riau Islands significantly inviting. Singapore’s reducing golf areas now have just one public course, a 9-hole venue. As of June 30, the nation closed its final 18-hole public course, with analysts predicting additional closures.
Throughout the Batam Golf Problem 2024, a two-day match that started on June 29, Mr. Sandiaga expressed optimism about positioning the Riau Islands as a premier golf tourism vacation spot.
There are at the moment three golf programs in Bintan Regency, with one other one beneath growth. In Batam, seven golf programs exist, and there are plans for extra. “It is a superb golf tourism vacation spot in Indonesia,” he affirmed, noting the strategic proximity to Singapore.
The tourism minister additionally highlighted progress in different areas, corresponding to Jakarta and West Java, which already host quite a few golf programs. Referring to plans introduced in March 2022, Mr. Sandiaga confirmed the event of 25 new golf programs in 5 “tremendous precedence” locations by 2025.
Bernardino Moningka Vega, head of worldwide relations on the Indonesia Golf Affiliation (PGI), noticed a rise within the sport’s recognition. The participation price amongst Indonesians has surged by 20% for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Mr. Bernardino famous that restrictions on different out of doors actions elevated golf’s standing as one of many few obtainable leisure choices. Knowledge from golf store purchases point out that the variety of golfers in Indonesia has risen to roughly 170,000, up from 50,000 earlier than the pandemic.
Nevertheless, regardless of the rising variety of golfers, golf tourism in Indonesia stays notably decrease in comparison with different Southeast Asian international locations. Based on a CNBC Indonesia report, citing a 2022 trade report, Indonesia has 170 golf programs, trailing behind neighboring international locations like Malaysia (244), Thailand (319), and India (296).
Yearly, Indonesia receives about 250,000 golf vacationers, considerably fewer than Thailand’s 6 million, Vietnam’s 1.5 million, and Malaysia’s 500,000, as reported by President Commissioner of Intra GolfLink Resorts (IGR), Darma Mangkuluhur Hutomo.
Land shortage in lots of Asian cities limits the institution of latest golf programs, driving up costs. Mr. Bernardino sees this as a “golden alternative” for Indonesia to advertise its inexpensive golf programs.
He recommended collaboration with Southeast Asian counterparts to spice up regional golf tourism and facilitate cross-country {golfing} excursions. He defined that he proposed partnerships with airways like AirAsia or Singapore Airways to align flight schedules with golf excursions.
Following these methods, Indonesia hopes to draw extra worldwide golfers, leveraging its advantageous mixture of affordability, high quality programs, and distinctive hospitality.
