Indonesia announces plans for travel bubble with Singapore for entry into Batam, Bintan

A travel bubble between Singapore and Indonesia’s Batam and Bintan will soon allow fully-vaccinated visitors to enter the islands.

The travel scheme is for people to visit Nongsa in Batam and Lagoi in Bintan, and they are not allowed to leave for other places said Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiago Uno in a virtual press conference on Monday (Jan 24).

Since Nov 29, 2021, there has been an active Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Singapore and Indonesia. However, there is no confirmed date for the launch of the new travel bubble yet.

This new arrangement is meant to boost tourism in the holiday hotspots. According to Mr Uno, the travel bubble is for Singaporeans to visit Batam and Bintan, rather than for Indonesians to visit Singapore.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Bandar Bentan Telani Terminal in Bintan could accommodate up to 2,400 travellers daily through 12 trips.

Now, to ease into the new arrangement, the ferry terminal will welcome about 50 to 100 tourists from Singapore daily. This number will gradually increase to 500 people in eight trips, said Mr Uno.

A negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is required 72 hours prior to departure and again upon arrival at NongsaPura Ferry Terminal in Batam, or Bandar Bentan Telani Terminal in Bintan.

Those who test positive upon arrival with mild to zero symptoms will be referred to an isolation facility, whereas those who test positive with moderate to severe symptoms will be referred to a hospital.

Travellers are to use the Indonesian COVID-19 tracing applications PeduliLindungi and Blue Pass when in the country. They are also required to have a holiday insurance package that will cover up to $30,000 worth of hospital treatments.