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 Batam is one of the largest islands in the Riau
archipelago, and not long ago it was just another poor island with
coastal villages and unspoiled nature. The declaration of the Batam
free trade zone in 1989 has turned the island upside down, after just a
few years of rapid construction it now has a modern airport, tourist
and business centers and a still growing infrastructure that has
changed the island completely.
It is no secret that nearby Singapore is the role model, and the goal
is eventually to become one of the biggest ports of Southeast Asia and
a major center of international trade, industry and commerce. The
strategic location close to the Malacca Strait and Singapore will
certainly help reaching this goal, but like the rest of Indonesia the
economy and development here was dealt a major blow during and after
the Asia economic crisis in the late 1990's.
Batam is actually one of fastest growing tourist destinations in
Indonesia in terms of visitor arrivals. There are several tourist
resorts here with luxurious hotels and golf courses. Many visitors
however choose to use Batam only as an entry point, it is only 40
minutes from Singapore with boat, and then leave with the first
available transport to other destinations in Indonesia.
History
The history of Batam is tightly interwoven with nearby Bintan island
and the rest of the Riau archipelago. According to Chinese chronicles
Batam was already inhabited as early as 231 A.D. when Singapore island
was still called Pulau Ujung (Ujung Island). It came under control of
the Malacca kingdom from the 13th century, and later taken over by the
Sultan of Johor who ruled until the 18th century. The coastal villages
that face Singapore is said to have been a hideout for pirates who
hijacked ships in the strait.
In 1824 the name of the island again appear in the Treaty of London
which led to the division of the region between the Dutch and the
British. Batam and the surrounding islands later became part of the
Riau Lingga Kingdom, a situation that lasted until 1911, when the Dutch
East Indies colonial administration took over.
The People
Close to Sekupang, a large part of the population still make their
living from fishing and sea transport.The native people of Batam are of
Malay origin, but with the rapid growth and development of the area
various ethnic groups from all over Indonesia has come here in search
for jobs and a better life. Traditionally most of the people live in
coastal villages, while the "Orang Laut" (sea people) continue to live
on boathouses and boats and generally fish for a living. Some of their
catch are sold to Singapore. Bahasa Indonesia is the language used to
communicate among the multi-ethnic population here, while many now also
understand English, which is commonly used in business communication.
Culture
Even if Batam is multi-ethnic it is still the Malayan culture and Islam
which forms the root of the local culture. Both daily life and the
ceremonies have religious and mythical elements, expressed in dance,
music and other forms of art. Some of the most popular traditional
dances are Jogi Dance, unique for Batam, Zapin Dance, which reflects
strong Arabic influence, Persembahan Dance, to welcome honored guests
and Ronggeng Dance, where the guests can be invited to come up and join
the dance and song.
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