Riau Islands Province

Originally part of Riau Province, the Riau Islands were split off as separate province in 1 July 2004 with Tanjungpinang as its capital, located at Bintan Islands. The major ethnic group of the province is Malay, others are Javanese, Sundanese Buginese, Minangkabau and Batak.

Total area of this province is 21,992 km2. This province consists of hundreds of islands. The province has no land borders with other provinces. All of the borders are waters. Riau Islands borders to The South China Sea and Singapore Strait in the north, Karimata Strait in the south and east, and Berhala Strait in the west side.

The economy of Riau Islands is contributed mostly by industrial and mining sector, for instance, bauxite deposits in Singkep Islands. Indonesia government determines Batam as one of the biggest industrial area in Indonesia.

Tanjungpinang City

In the 16th Century,Tanjungpinang was a Malay Kingdom centralized at Penyengat Island. Today, Tanjungpinang is the capital cityof Riau Islands Province endowed with fascinanting tourists attractions of historical heritages,art and culture as well as natural and marine destinations.

With total area of 812.7 sq-km,Tanjungpinang own tropical characteristics and the very strategic geographical position as commerce town and tourism town because Tanjungpinang had direct border with two developed countries, Singapore and Malaysia. This make Tanjungpinang start to have x'self order prepare all infrastructure as tourism support. Leisure and security become Tanjungpinang priority in order for every tourist which dating pay a visit to "Old Town" will get tourism experience not easy to forget.

Tourism Profile of Riau Islands

Riau Islands is strategically located on International Shipping lane of Malacca Strait right on the borders of Singapore,Malaysia,Brunei,Vietnam,Cambodia,and Thailand. The province is covering area 252,602 sq-km with total population of 1,238,364 people under six main district of Tanjungpinang City,Batam City,Bintan Regency,Karimun Regency,Natuna Regency,and Lingga Regency. Riau Islands has become the main gateway for tourism of the South East Asia region offering abundant attractions such as historical,natural,shopping,humanity,agribusiness,and marine tourism. the province has also established as one of the most favorable M.I.C.E (Meeting,Incentive,Convention and Exhibition) cities in the world. The region is predominant with striking origin culture of Malay which enriched by traditional dances,customs,and other cultural heritages.