Batam Info

 

Batam is one of the 3, 000 islands, which make up the Riau Archipelago and is closest to Singapore. It’s only 20 km away or 50 minutes by ferry (air- conditioned ferry). It’s population is about 1000. 000 and rapidly increasing. As this island increasingly develops in industrial and tourism industries, ever  a significant industrial ever increasing numbers of people  from other parts / regions of Indonesia flock here as and island of opportunities. Once a sparsely inhabited island with scattered fishing communities, Batam Fortunes took a sharp turn in early 1971 when a presidential decree designated it as an industrial area and in 1975 the Batam Authority was formed, empowered to industrialize & commercialize this island.

Now international standard hotels as well as countless hotels of other various classes cater to the rapidly expanding demands for accomodations created by tourism.

Where virgin jungle once stood are now whole new towns complete with mosques, churches, temples, malls, local markets, supermarkets, additional reservoirs , an airport , well developed telecommunications infrastructure , modern industrial parks and beginning of other large new urban centers.

While all these changes are continually taking place, Batam has retain many pockets of rural charms such as :
– beautiful , serene beaches with white sands fringed with palm trees,
– many kampungs (villages) are left undisturbed with laid back , easy going life style,
– fishing villages using traditional methods supplying very affordable fresh fishes, squids, crabs, lobsters, prawns, etc.