For decades, tourism in the Riau Islands (Kepri) has always been synonymous with Batam and Bintan. But in the next few years, tourism in the Riau Islands will have new spots that are ready to seize the attention of tourists, named Katang Lingga Island.
Katang Lingga Island is located in Lingga Regency, and it is one of the new islands which has great potential to become a classy tourist destination in the Riau Islands (Kepri). The distance of Katang Lingga Island from the Barelang Ujung jetty is only about 30 minutes by boat and half an hour will not be bored because of the beauty of the islands around Katang Lingga Island, including Abang Island which has been widely known as a snorkeling tourism destination.
TravelmakerID had the opportunity to visit Katang Lingga Island and saw all the preparations made by the management to prepare this island to be a tourist destination for high end tourists.
In more detail, Wagianto Angkasa Wijaya as the Director of PT Angkasa Wijaya Group in his remarks welcoming the Tourism and Creative Economy Journalists Forum (Forwaparekraf) group on Katang Lingga Island, on Friday (9/10) explained the big plan he was preparing.
“Katang Lingga Island, which is 73 hectares in size, has a lot of potential. One of them is that this place is still very beautiful, just imagine the first time we landed here, we were amazed, the swimming fish can be seen with the naked eye, and we fell in love with this island, “explained Wagianto Wijaya.
From a tourism point of view, Katang Lingga Island will has great potential to be a tourist choice because beside it is located in the administrative area of Lingga Regency as well, it is geographically roughly to Batam City, which is notably the biggest entry point for foreign tourists in Riau Islands, especially from Malaysia and Singapore.
“Therefore, Singapore and Malaysia are our target markets here. Moreover, the distance between the two countries and Kepri is very close, only about 1 to 2 hours using speed boat,” he said.
Katang Lingga Island attracted the attention of Wagianto Wijaya and several of his business partners. It is clear that various plans will be realized in Katang Lingga Island within the next 2 years.
“We will prepare Katang Lingga Island as a world favorite tourist destination. Even though it is aimed at high end tourists, it doesn’t mean that we will leave a touch of tradition and original culture in Katang Lingga. For instance, our resort is shaped like one of the famous culinary delights on Katang Lingga Island, named Gong Gong Shells,” he explained.
Wagianto also looks very confident, Katang Lingga Island will become a new tourist gateway in the Riau Islands and the world’s mainstay in the next 2 years when the development process is completed.
Tourism Ministry Supports the Development of Katang Lingga Island
Apart from Wagianto Angkasa Wijaya, Vinsensius Jemadu as Director of Marketing for Regional 1 (Nusantara, ASEAN, Australia and Oceania) of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, and Head of the Lingga Regency Tourism, Youth and Sports, Fahrurrazi was also present.
In his remarks, Vinsensius Jemadu or who is familiarly called VJ, expressed his support for the plan to develop Katang Lingga Island into a high-class tourist destination.
“The presence of Katang Lingga Island will certainly present the potential for tourists to come to the Riau Islands and moreover as a high-class tourist destination. We hope that foreign tourists are also interested in spending their time here. And the concept that is trying to develop, in my opinion, will be a special attraction for Katang Lingga Island, because Katang Lingga Island is currently planning to build something that is global and personal, so that it is on the right track,” he explained.
However, beside it has potential to attract foreign tourists from China, Malaysia and Singapore, VJ advised domestic tourists to also be given special treatment.
“I have several examples, where high-end destinations are built, it turns out that domestic tourists are also the most responsive with these classy destinations. For example, in Labuan Bajo, there is a high-end class accommodation which is also filled with domestic tourists from Jakarta who want to take a moment from their busy life. So that the potential for domestic tourists cannot be seconded,” said VJ.
Meanwhile, Fahrurrazi as Kadisparpora Lingga Regency to TravelmakerID expressed his hope with the existence of this Katang Lingga Island tourist destination later.
“The presence of Katang Lingga Island, I hope, can bring back the glory of Lingga, as in the days of the previous Lingga kingdom. Moreover, the tourism potential in Katang Lingga is very good, there are water, nature, underwater, cultural and historical tourism. The historical tourism potential of the Lingga region will be able to attract tourists from Brunei, Singapore,Malaysia and even the Philippines,” said Fahrurrazi.
Katang Lingga Island is ready to become a tourist destination that offers one stop service & entertainment, so that it is in line with the Indonesian tourism paradigm, named Quality Tourism.
