As one of the largest of the 3,000 islands in the Riau archipelago, Batam is one of Indonesia's fastest growing tourist spots.

Batam's Beginnings

According to Chinese legend, Batam was inhabited as early as 231 A.D. It was taken over by the Malacca kingdom in the 13th century, and later was ruled by the Sultan of Johor until the 18th century. Some of its coastal villages were said to be pirate hideouts for derelicts who hijacked ships in the strait.

The 1824 Treaty of London divided the island between the British and the Dutch. Batam and the surrounding islands became part of the Riau Lingga Kingdom until 1911, when the Dutch East Indies administration took over.

More Recent History

Natives of Batam, Malay in origin, predominantly made their living from fishing. The island was basically poor and consisted of villages along the coast and unspoiled natural treasures within.

Batam's history changed drastically beginning 1969, when it became a support base for the Pertamina oil company and its offshore oil exploration.

Things began to change in 1989 when Batam was declared a free trade zone.

Business is Booming

The free trade zone declaration changed Batam drastically. Construction began to boom, and the island now boasts a modern airport, growing infrastructure, and ever-increasing tourist and business activity.

With nearby Singapore as a model, Batam hopes to continue its growth to become a leading Southeast Asian port and trade center. Already there are several luxury tourist resorts on Batam, although many visitors use the island as an entry port only (it is just 40 minutes to Singapore by boat), arriving there briefly before taking off to other Asian destinations.

Culture

The Batam culture is Malayan and islamic at root. Dance is popular, with often-seen forms being Jogi Dance (a Batam specialty), Zapin Dance (inspired by Arabic influences), Persembahan Dance (common when welcoming honored guests) and Ronggeng Dance, which features guest participation.

Today

Today, Batam has a population of around 100,000. It's a popular destination for tourists from Singapore as well as all over the world, who visit for the duty-free shopping and excellent seafood.

Despite its growing tourist industry, Batam still has peaceful beaches and quiet villages. You can purchase fresh fish in a fishing village and relax on a sandy white beach.