Singapore-Belitung Flight Route Reopened
The regular international flight route from Singapore to the Tanjung Kelayang Special Economic Zone (SEZ), Belitung Island, has been reopened. The low-cost carrier (LCC) from the Singapore Airlines group, Scoot, made its inaugural landing at this priority Indonesian tourism destination on Sunday, 3 May 2026.
Scoot is now officially serving the direct flight route from Changi Airport, one of Southeast Asia’s busiest aviation hubs, to Belitung twice a week. Daniel Alexander Napitupulu, Director of the Tanjung Kelayang SEZ, stated that this inaugural flight was a success, with cabin occupancy dominated by foreign tourists from Singapore.
Daniel noted that the opening of this connectivity is supported by various facilities catering to foreign tourists. “Belitung has previously hosted the G20 Ministerial Level, ASEAN Ministerial Level, and many other international events. Its tourism ecosystem infrastructure is already in very ready condition and of international quality,” he said when contacted via messaging app on Sunday, 3 May 2026.
He added that the Tanjung Kelayang SEZ is no longer just popular with domestic tourists. The largest number of foreign visitors to the tourism area come from Singapore, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Korea, Australia, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom.
Tourism in the Tanjung Kelayang SEZ also contributes to state foreign exchange. Unlike foreign exchange from the industrial sector, which has a complex and time-consuming flow, the distribution and penetration of money from the tourism sector flows down to the individual level with a very short and fast process chain.
In addition to contributing foreign exchange to the country, the opening of this flight route is expected to boost the local economy. Daniel stated that the government is encouraging activities in the Tanjung Kelayang SEZ to actively collaborate with local communities. “Such as the Afternoon Tea activity with the Arsel Community and honey farming with the Pelabo Community,” he said.
The government is also encouraging business actors to collaborate with local vehicle providers and to improve the quality of human resources to support local tourism. The Tanjung Kelayang SEZ is also actively partnering with local SMEs such as Batik Sepiak and BICA Ceramics to be part of the tourism activity programmes for visitors to the SEZ.
Furthermore, Daniel stated that amid the geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East, the Tanjung Kelayang SEZ continues to synergise with the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Tourism, and local government officials to realise regional international flights with Scoot.
“Today, one by one, the future of tourism that drives economic growth and provides employment is being realised,” Daniel said. The return of this international flight, according to him, is not just the landing of an aircraft, but the take-off of Belitung’s economy towards the global stage.
Quoting the official website of the National SEZ Council, the establishment of the Tanjung Kelayang SEZ was carried out through Government Regulation Number 6 of 2016. This tourism SEZ has geostrategic advantages, being located between Indonesia and ASEAN countries, which are the target captive market. The SEZ, which was inaugurated by the 7th President Joko Widodo on 14 March 2019, is included in the 10 priority tourism destinations.