BPS: International Tourist Arrivals to Riau Islands Rose by 25.14 Per Cent in August

The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) reported that the number of international tourist arrivals to the Riau Islands province during August 2026 reached 226,035 visits, representing a 25.14 per cent increase compared to the 180,623 visits recorded in July 2026.

The Acting Head of BPS Riau Islands, Margaretha Ari Anggorowati, stated that this month-on-month increase was triggered by national holidays in Singapore and Malaysia during the August 2026 period, which coincided with long weekends.

“This condition served as one of the drivers for many Malaysian and Singaporean tourists coming to holiday in the Riau Islands,” Margaretha said in Tanjungpinang on Thursday.

Margaretha detailed the distribution of international arrivals by entry point in the Riau Islands for August 2026, noting that Batam City recorded the highest number with 183,281 visits (81.09 per cent), followed by Bintan Regency with 29,492 visits (13.05 per cent), Karimun Regency with 7,892 visits (3.49 per cent), and Tanjungpinang City with 5,351 visits (3.37 per cent).

In terms of nationality, the arrivals included 78,941 visitors from Malaysia, 11,544 from China, 6,404 from India, 2,896 from the Philippines, 2,654 from Japan, 2,443 from the United Kingdom, 2,232 from South Korea, 2,163 from Australia, 2,001 from Myanmar, and 29,218 from other countries.

“Of the top ten countries visiting the Riau Islands, most recorded an increase in arrivals in August compared to the previous month,” she revealed.

Separately, the Head of the Riau Islands Tourism Office, Hasan, explained that the international tourist arrival target for 2026 has been set at 2.7 million visits, aiming to exceed the 2025 target of 2 million visits.