Navin Kumar Perianen
Batam foreign visits reached 1,309,825 from January to September 2026, according to Tribun Batam. That is 159,018 more than a year earlier, a rise of about 13.8%. As a result, the island is on track for a strong year-end. The growth helps explain why a new ferry from Puteri Harbour opened on 1 November.
Meanwhile, Singapore and Malaysia sent about 79% of September’s visits, based on Batam statistics office (BPS) data. Singapore alone sent 70,307 visits. Malaysia sent 58,305.
Overall, here is what the September data shows, who is visiting and what travellers should know before year-end.
What September showed
BPS Batam recorded 162,087 foreign visits in September 2026. That is 14.13% above September 2025. However, it is 11.56% below August, when visits reached 183,281.
The monthly dip follows a seasonal pattern. BPS Riau Islands says visits usually peak in August, during national holidays in Singapore and Malaysia. Moreover, the province recorded 200,584 visits in September, the highest September since 2021.
In addition, visits across the Riau Islands from January to September reached about 1.6 million. That compares with about 1.4 million a year earlier. Batam took 162,087 of the province’s 200,584 September visits, or about 81%.
Furthermore, visitors arrive through the Batam Centre ferry terminal, Nongsa Pura, Harbourbay, Sekupang and Hang Nadim airport. Note that BPS counts visits, not people, so a traveller can be counted twice.
Who is visiting Batam
Singapore remains the largest source, with 70,307 visits, or 43.38% of the total. Malaysia is second with 58,305 visits, or 35.97%. Together, that is 128,612 visits, or about 79%.
China sent 5,797 visits, or 3.58%, and India sent 3,932, or 2.43%. Likewise, the Philippines, Myanmar, Japan, the United States, Britain and Australia made up the rest of the top ten. The ten countries together made up 89.50% of visits.
Read more: Batam-Penang flights take off as Batik Air’s direct route is live
Read more: Batam haze: what visitors flying or sailing in should know
Read more: Batam power outage: Malaysian visitors may struggle to call home
However, Malaysia’s share has grown. In February 2026, BPS data showed Malaysia at 26.26% of visits, against 35.97% in September. Singapore’s share stayed close to 43%.
The tourism office links the pattern to proximity and to holiday calendars in both countries. Therefore, visits tend to rise when Singapore and Malaysia enter holiday seasons. Johor travellers can reach the island by the Puteri Harbour ferry.
Hotels, risks and planning
Star-hotel occupancy in Batam was 56.69% in September. That is up 4.78 points from August and above the provincial average of 50.08%. Moreover, foreign guests stayed 1.88 nights, and the overall average was 1.82 nights.
Batam Tourism and Culture Office head Ardiwinata says weekend occupancy is strong and has reached 69%. Meanwhile, hotels are preparing discount packages for the year-end peak. The city also plans a week-long Batam International Expo tied to its 197th anniversary on 18 December.
Still, Batam has had problems. It has had a power outage, and residents in Sambau, Nongsa, protested a water shortage in October. In August, police raided HH Club Planet 3.0 Pub and KTV and detained 32 people. Even so, September visits were 14.13% above a year earlier.
Opus Bay Batam opens in December with its own ferry terminal. Meanwhile, the Puteri Harbour ferry lists a one-way adult fare of RM135 on its schedule page. In short, Batam foreign visits are up about 14% and Singapore and Malaysia drive most of them. Book early for year-end and confirm ferry times before you buy.
Maran Perianen
Yalinie Mathan
Sashidaran Gunathevan
Add comment