BINTAN – Bintan Resorts saw a significant increase in visitor arrivals last year,
The destination saw a total of 397,833 visitor arrivals in 2008, representing a 19.2 percent increase from the 333,771 visitors in 2007. Visitor numbers slowed in the second half of the year, however,
From January to December 2008, 111,985 visitors from Singapore made up nearly a third of all arrivals, a growth of 5.4 percent over the previous year.
Travellers from the rest of Asia accounted for 52 percent. Japan and Korea remained the largest markets after Singapore and Indonesia.
Other major markets include Germany, Australia and the UK.
While the year ahead is expected to be challenging, Bintan Resorts is upgrading facilities at existing resorts, revamping tour programmes and enhancing connectivity via sea and air routes.
Said Asad Shiraz, director marketing, Bintan Resorts International, “In the current economic situation, many people will be cutting back on leisure travel, but they may be unwilling to completely give it up.
“We will therefore shift our marketing focus to Singapore, Indonesia and other nearby markets.â€
