Batam, Batamnews - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Batam recorded the number of foreign tourists visiting Batam, Riau Islands (Kepri), during September 2021 totaling 144 visits.

This number decreased by 12.7 percent compared to the number of visits the previous month. In August 2021, foreign tourists visited 165 visits.

However, when compared to September 2020, foreign tourist visits in September 2021 decreased by 60.22 percent.

Head of BPS Batam, Rahmad Iswanto, said foreign tourists visiting Batam City in January-September 2021 were dominated by Singaporean foreign tourists who reached 12.49 percent of the total number of foreign tourists from January to September 2021.

"The decline in the number of foreign tourist visits during September 2021 to Batam City occurred at the entrances in Batam, namely Batam Center Ferry Port, Hang Nadim Airport, and Harborbay Ferry Port," said Rahmad, Thursday (4/11/2021).

Cumulatively from January to September 2021, the number of foreign tourist visits to Batam City reached 1,946 visits or decreased by 99.35 percent when compared to the same period in the previous year as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak which had an impact on the tourism industry of Batam.