As 2025 draws to a close, Bintan reflects on a year marked by steady recovery and evolving travel preferences, with growing demand for destinations that are both easily accessible and rich in experiences. This shift worked strongly in Bintan’s favour, particularly among Indian travellers, reinforcing India as a key source market for the destination.
From January to November 2025, Bintan welcomed over 13,000 travellers from India, highlighting the market’s increasing importance. Seamless connectivity via Singapore remained a major advantage, further strengthened by expanded access through Malaysia, with ferry services now operating from Johor Bahru. Short travel times and straightforward planning continued to position Bintan as an attractive island getaway for Indian travellers.
Throughout the year, Indian visitors explored Bintan across multiple travel segments. Family holidays, leisure breaks and wellness-focused escapes saw consistent demand, supported by the destination’s integrated resort zones, purpose-built leisure infrastructure and a wide selection of beachfront accommodations. Spa and wellness experiences, championship golf courses, water sports and curated activities further enhanced Bintan’s appeal beyond a traditional beach destination.
Experience-led travel emerged as a defining trend in 2025. Signature IP events such as the Mandiri Bintan Marathon, sailing regattas, the BRAVE music festival, Bintan Triathlon and wellness retreats attracted travellers seeking immersive and active holidays. These events complemented Bintan’s year-round leisure offerings and aligned well with Indian travellers looking for meaningful experiences within shorter travel windows.
Commenting on the destination’s strategy, Abdul Wahab, Chief Operating Officer, Bintan Resorts, said, “India continues to be a priority market for Bintan. We are seeing growing interest across leisure, FIT, group travel, MICE and destination weddings. Our focus remains on building relevance across all segments while ensuring ease of access, strong infrastructure and diverse experiences for Indian travellers.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Bintan aims to deepen engagement with the Indian market through targeted collaborations, stronger storytelling and experience-driven offerings designed to encourage longer stays and repeat visits. While leisure travel will remain central, the destination will also sharpen its focus on MICE and weddings, supported by purpose-built venues and resort-led event infrastructure.
As travel preferences continue to evolve, Bintan enters 2026 with a clear strategy, reinforcing its position as an accessible, experience-led island destination for Indian travellers.
