Northstar

18 | www.travelweekly-asia.com DESTINATION Bintan HOT NUMBERS For Jan-May this year, Bintan's northern seaport, Tanjung Uban saw +26.7% arrivals, while southwestern seaport Tanjung Pinang saw +31.5% arrivals. By Naomi Neoh Healthy arrivals are meeting a second boom in tourism supply with new resort brands, attractions and cruise docking at the island. The century-old MV Doulos Phos will open as Doulos Phos, The Hotel. When Bobby Chan, 27, a schoolteacher was planning a short vacation with four other friends, he was looking to visit a nearby destination to Singapore without breaking the bank. Slightly over an hour's ride away, Bintan fit the bill for their trip in June. Not his first time to Bintan, Chan and his friends had spent the five- day, four-night trip on full throttle with adventure activities such as kayaking, flying fox and jet-skiing, and winding down with massages. The schoolteacher had booked room nights at two properties—The Canopi and Nirwana Resort Hotel—both in the island's Lagoi area. "The areas were as crowded as we expected… it was no different from Sentosa back home [in Singapore]," he remarked. He noted that the areas they visited saw a good mix of families, friend groups and couples vacationing in the height of the June school holiday break in Singapore. Arrivals on the uptick This is part of the rising trend in arrivals to the island through its two seaports, Tanjung Uban, docking at the Lagoi area, and Tanjung Pinang, serving the island's main city centre. Both seaports saw an uptick of 26.7% and 31.5% respectively for the months January to May this year to reach 693,435 and 162,185, according to figures from Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism. The increase in arrivals can be attributed as part of a second boom in tourism supply that has greatly diversified tourism on the island after the first wave in the 90s. A second wave starting from 2014 has introduced new international hotels and resorts brands, and nature and adventure attractions to the 1,173-sq- km island's northern coastal region of Lagoi. These include accommodations types ranging from luxury resorts to beachfront chalets, and even 'glamping' tents. Under the Bintan Resorts umbrella—the island's main tourist destination—are some 13 independent beach resorts, four designer golf courses and a range of recreational facilities and attractions. Some of the brands in include Banyan Tree, The Sanchaya, Swiss-Bel Hotel and Bintan Lagoon Resort. Also in the Lagoi area, the crowning jewel of the 338-hectare SOURCE: STATISTICS INDONESIA, AND DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF IMMIGRATION A turning point for Bintan's tourism 12 HOURS ON BINTAN • Kick of the morning by taking a mangrove pontoon boat ride. • For the adventurous, wake boarding, jet skiing, snorkelling and off-road trail ATV are highlights. • Families can go on an eco tour to the Safari Lagoi and ECO Farm. waterfront resort development Treasure Bay Bintan is an expansive man-made seawater lagoon spanning 6.3 hectares. Surrounding the lagoon are new four-star and luxury hotels such as the 100-tent The Canopi, where guests can get the full 'glamping' experience in air- conditioned safari tents, and take part in water sports and adventure activities such as wake boarding and off-road trail ATV or go on a mangrove pontoon boat ride. Next in the development pipeline is the century-old MV Doulos as it enters the final stages of its conversion into Doulos Phos, The Hotel, a boutique hotel. Permanently docked beside the Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal, the ship hotel will have facilities both on land and onboard, including a maritime museum. Rev up an ATV along the dirt trails in Bintan. The full 'glamping' experience at The Canopi. HOTEL PIPELINE Doulos Phos, The Hotel aims for end-2018 opening Under construction: Alila Villas Bintan, Four Points by Sheraton Bintan, The Haven Bintan

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