JAKARTA – With the goal of reviving the tourism sector in both locations, Indonesia has permitted quarantine-free cross-border travel between Singapore and the two cities of Batam and Bintan, according to an official.

"The government has supported the travel bubble between the cities of Batam, Bintan, and Singapore to boost the tourism industry's revival," said Airlangga Hartarto, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy.

According to sources, travellers from Singapore with complete Covid-19 vaccines are allowed to enter both cities via boat docks in Nongsa Batam and Telani Bintan with documentation of negative coronavirus testing within the last 72 hours. To activate Indonesian Covid-19 tracing programmes and monitor applications, visitors must have insurance with a guarantee of S$30,000 (USD22,300s).

The Indonesian Presidential Staff Office's Deputy for Infrastructure, Energy, and Investment, Febry Calvin Tetelepta, said on Monday that the plan has been delayed multiple times due to the unpredictable conditions of the Covid-19 outbreak in both nations.

According to Tetelepta, the travel bubbles are predicted to help these two cities' economies recover and have a large multiplier effect.

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