Bintan, Batamnews - Singapore has opened a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) for foreign tourists from eight countries.

Singapore's Ministry of Transport detailed that the eight countries included in the VTL are Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, and the United States (US).

The Riau Islands as the closest area to Singapore responded to this policy.

Tourism actors hope that foreign tourists to Singapore can 'drop in' to the Riau Islands, although the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, stated that Indonesia is temporarily closed to migrants from the Lion Country.

As revealed by the manager of the Lagoi tourist area in Bintan, Abdul Wahab.

"Now we are trying to keep foreign tourists from entering Bintan. We hope that foreign tourists from Singapore can visit Lagoi through the VTL scheme," said Wahab who is also the boss of PT BRC, Tuesday (12/10/2021).

Efforts continue to be made by the Riau Islands Provincial Government so that foreign tourists can enter the Riau Islands. Starting from the intensive travel bubble to establishing Bintan Resort as a pilot project for the entrance of foreign tourists to Riau Islands, especially from Singapore.

The determination of the pilot project resulted from discussions between the Riau Islands Governor, Ansar Ahmad, and relevant stakeholders with the Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi during a virtual meeting on Saturday (9/10/2021).

"Bintan Resort is used as a pilot project for foreign tourist visits. We continue to intensify this so that it can be implemented as soon as possible," he said.