SINGAPORE - TravelWeekly understands from industry
sources that there are plans for a casino on Bintan
island.
The Indonesian government has recently issued a casino
gaming license and it is believed it was awarded to the
Salim Group, Indonesia's largest and most influential
conglomerate.
The Salim Group owns Bintan Resort Corporation.
It is plausible that this is a reaction to Singapore's
plans for an integrated casino resort, said Jonathan
Galaviz, partner of the Casino Gaming Practice, Galaviz Ong
& Co.
He said, "Indonesia treats Bintan and Batam as resort
islands, and tries its best to ensure that these two
islands have an identity of their own.
"It would not be unwise to formally consider this. What
you are going to see is that the activity in Singapore is
going to prompt government by government in Asian nations
to basically to reconsider their positions on the casino
gaming issue."
Both the Indonesian islands have reputations as an ideal
getaway with resort amenities and beautiful beaches.
Galaviz believes that this will be capitalized upon to
attract the leisure traveller.