Soeharto, Goh inaugurate Bintan tourist resort

Soeharto, Goh inaugurate Bintan tourist resort

By I. Christianto

BINTAN ISLAND, Riau (JP): President Soeharto and Singapore
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong inaugurated the S$3.5 billion
(US$2.8 billion) Bintan Beach International Resort yesterday, a
tourist destination established jointly by the two countries.

Yesterday's ceremony at Bandar Bentan Telani was attended by a
number of ministers, ambassadors and business leaders, including
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono, Minister of Tourism, Post and
Telecommunications Joop Ave, Minister of Public Works Radinal
Moochtar, State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie
and Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung.

Based on an accord signed by Indonesia and Singapore in August
1990, Bintan has been developed as a joint tourism area, which
includes a luxury golf course and beach resort.

"One of the ways to face challenges and seize opportunities in
the future is by cooperating with other nations, especially our
close neighbors," President Soeharto said.

"Through an agreement on economic cooperation, we shall
develop Bintan as an area for industry, tourism and water re
sources," he said. "Under the agreement, we will also develop an
oil depot, distribution and processing facilities, maritime
estate and offshore construction on Great Karimun Island and
other adjacent islands. We believe the agreement between
Indonesia and Singapore is highly beneficial to both parties."

The tourist area, located on the northern part of Bintan, is
being developed by an Indonesia-Singapore joint venture firm on a
23,000-hectare site along a white-sand beach. The firm is 60
percent owned by an Indonesian consortium comprising of the Salim
Group, PT Suakajaya Indowahana, the Riau provincial
administration and the Indonesian Navy Foundation.

The other 40 percent is controlled by a Singaporean
consortium, consisting of Singapore Technologies Industrial Ltd,,
the Development Bank of Singapore, Overseas-Chinese Banking
Corporation, Overseas Union Bank, UOL Equity Investments, Straits
Steamship Land, Tropical Resorts and KMP Bincorp Investments.

Cooperation

Goh said: "Indeed, the development of Bintan as a resort
island extends the cooperation between our two countries into the
field of tourism. Singapore's advantage as an efficient air hub
together with the natural splendors of Indonesia will create vast
tourism opportunities for both countries."

"There is a catchment of Singaporeans eager for new weekend
destinations. The proximity to Changi Airport makes Bintan easily
accessible to international tourists."

He said that the positive factors favor Bintan achieving
success as the bright star, the "Bintang", among the tropical
island resorts in Asia.

A director of Bintan Beach International, Anky Handoko,
reported yesterday that 31,000 tourists visited Bintan in 1995.

He said that by the end of this year, some 200,000 tourists
are expected to visit Bintan, which is approximately 45 minutes
from Singapore by ferry.

The government has committed itself to attracting at least 11
million tourists to Indonesia annually by 2005, with total
spending reaching $15 billion.

Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto
said yesterday that in addition to the tourist resort, Singapore
and Indonesia will also develop water resources and the Karimun
industrial complex.