The welcoming ceremony was held to mark the arrival of international visitors in Batam and to create a positive first impression of the destination.
“Welcome to Batam, our family from Malaysia. We hope you enjoy your stay here,” Ni Luh said as she greeted two families from Malaysia.
She expressed her appreciation for the tourists’ willingness to take part in the reception organized by the Indonesian government and the Batam City administration, and assured them of comfort and quality services during their visit.
“We welcome our guests with warmth and hospitality. We hope tourists can fully enjoy their holiday in Batam,” she said.
The reception was extended to passengers of the Kepri Coral Ferry arriving from Stulang Laut Port in Malaysia, which docked at the Golden Coast Bengkong Terminal. The ferry carried 105 passengers, comprising 104 Malaysian nationals and one Indonesian citizen.
Ni Luh said the Golden Coast Bengkong Terminal was selected as the venue because it is a newly established port that requires continued support. She noted that the international-only terminal has recorded high passenger activity.
Since its inauguration by Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono and National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo in May 2025, the terminal has served approximately 73,000 passengers from Malaysia and Singapore.
Also present at the event was Batam City Government Assistant Heriman, who noted the close cultural ties between Batam and Malaysia, both of which share Malay roots.
“Welcome to our brothers and sisters from Malaysia. We hope you enjoy Batam’s tourist destinations, from its culinary offerings to other attractions,” Heriman said.
One of the Malaysian visitors, 45-year-old Hanizah, said she was delighted by the warm welcome from the Indonesian people. Visiting Batam for the first time, she said the reception left a strong impression.
“The welcome was very festive. Thank you for receiving us. We plan to stay in Batam for four days, traveling with my sister and husband,” she said.
The welcoming ceremony was marked by the presentation of flower garlands to the arriving families, along with bouquets and souvenirs from the Batam City Tourism Office.
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Translator: Laily, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Primayanti
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