Head of Riau Islands Provincial Tourism Office, Hasan, said that in the period from January to May 2025, the province recorded 711 thousand foreign tourist visits.
To meet the remaining target, a variety of events will be held across cities and regencies, in collaboration with stakeholders such as state-owned enterprises, the tourism industry, and local governments.
“We’re optimistic that strong synergy among all stakeholders in organizing these events will significantly boost foreign tourist arrivals by the end of 2025,” Hasan said in Tanjungpinang on Saturday.
The events include Kepri Creative Explore, which is set to take place in Batam city from July 14 to 16, 2025. The event will involve a photography hunt in which 70 photographers from four countries—Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam—are scheduled to participate.
“This event is a pure collaboration between the Kepri Tourism Office and photography communities, aimed at showcasing the beauty of Batam’s tourist destinations through photography. The goal is to raise Batam’s international profile,” he explained.
Other major events include the Batam 10K Marathon (July 13), followed by a MURI World Record attempt for the largest fish cooking event in Batam, which will involve three thousand participants.
Bintan will host several events, including Bintan Trekking 2025 (August 23–24), Bintan Triathlon (October 4–5), and the Mandiri Bintan Marathon (November 8–9), which will target to attract five thousand domestic and international participants.
Tanjungpinang will host Dekrafest Kepri 2025 (July 27), Dragon Boat Race, Kopi Merdeka Fest, Kuliner Merdeka, Kepri Marine Fishing 2025, and Kepri Go International Marathon 2025.
The dates for the events are currently being finalized with the relevant stakeholders.
Next, the International Maritime Cultural Charm Festival (Pesona Budaya Bahari Kepri) is scheduled to take place from October 18–31 in Tanjungpinang.
Other events in the pipeline include Sail to Indonesia, from July to October 2025, and the Geopark Natuna Marathon 2025, whose dates will be confirmed and announced soon.
Hasan expressed the hope that these events will attract not only international tourists but also domestic travelers, and make them want to stay longer in the province.
The wide range of attractions offered via the events -- from culture and arts to natural beauty -- are designed to captivate visitors.
So far, the number of domestic tourists visiting the province has reached 1.7 million against the target of 3.5 million for this year.
“It will take a joint effort from all related parties to achieve our tourism goals for 2025. That’s why it’s important to establish strong and strategic collaborations to ensure each event delivers maximum impact,” Hasan added.
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Translator: Primayanti
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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