More tourists to visit Riau

PEKANBARU, Riau: Andi Mappi Sammeng, director general of tourism at the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication, has estimated that in another three years from now the number of tourists on Riau will reach 1.5 million people per year.

"Tourist operators should well anticipate the influx of visitors," he told a business gathering in Pekanbaru on Thursday.

The rising number of tourist arrivals is mostly due to the developing tourist resorts on the islands of Batam and Bintan, he said as reported by Antara.

An estimated 850,000 tourists visit Riau every year, making it the third biggest tourist destination after Jakarta (1.2 million) and Bali (1.1 million).

Andi said that in the future, the mainland should also be beautified so that it will be as attractive as Batam and Bintan. (rms)