Newstrack

Bintan Resorts open to investments from India

Sayoni Bhaduri - Indonesia

Asad Shiraz Marketing director Bintan Resorts

Bintan Resorts in Indonesia is looking at attracting investments from other regions of the world, including India. Asad Shiraz, marketing director of Bintan Resorts said, "We are looking for investments primarily in the area of resorts developments, residential and holiday villas. This will increase the variety and quantity of accommodation options available on the island, while serving to attract a larger Indian and international visitor base. We are also open to inviting real-estate developers." Apart from India they are also looking at investments from Indonesia, Singapore, China, the Middle East, Korea and UK.

Divulging further details, Shiraz remarked that Bintan Island, being located in Indonesia, follows the ownership rules and requirements put down by the Indonesian law. However, Bintan Resorts is managed by a Singapore company and enjoys the level of infrastructure and security as per Singaporean and international standards. Accordingly, the infrastructural facilities provided by the resort developers include power, WHO-approved water standards, road networks and fibre-optic telecommunication up to the boundary of each parcel sold. "In addition, we also provide for security, crisis management, medical support, fire safety and environmental protection with Bintan Resorts," he added.

Keeping in mind the growing popularity of the destination, Shiraz expects that resorts will receive 1,000,000 visitors by 2012 compared to the current figure of 330,000 visitors. He adds that the relatively low land prices and infrastructure, coupled with the area where Bintan Resorts lies being declared a Special Economic Zone, should be a worthwhile incentive to invest.

Bintan Resorts is being developed by the Bintan Resort Development Corporation (BRDC), in collaboration with P T Bintan Resort Cakrawala (BRC) and Island Leisure International (ILI). Shiraz describes it as, "A tropical island conveniently located near the popular tourist and business destination of Singapore. Bintan's tranquil, tropical island beach settings compliment the appeal of Singapore as a bustling metropolis." Hence, the marketing strategy also revolves around propagating the same idea of selling the island as a joint destination with Singapore in conjunction with the Singapore Tourism Board, with plans to participate in major travel trade shows around the world, as well as working with tour operator partners around the world. Apparently, US$ 180 million have already gone into the development of the infrastructure of Bintan Resorts, which presently has five hotels and hotel clusters, four signature golf courses and a host of other attractions. "With the development of Lagoi Bay site, we will inject another $160million into the infrastructure," informed Shiraz.