Batam
From World travel guide
Batam is a small but busy island in Indonesia of 45km x 25km and nearly a million people, hundreds of multinational owned factories, towns, shopping centres and gateway to the Riau Islands.
Located only 20km from Singapore and 25km from Johor in Malaysia, Batam is Indonesia's equivalent to China's SEZ's (Special Economic Zones) - a place where the nation's economic planners test new economic policies and ideas.
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Understand
Batam is synonymous with electronics sweatshops, underaged prostitutes and illegal casinos, and unless you have a particular interest in these you're better off going elsewhere (such as Batam's more resort-y neighbor Bintan).
Talk
Get in
From Singapore
There are ferries running from Harbourfront and Tanah Merah ferry terminals to several destinations on Batam. Ferries departing from Harbourfront go to Batam Centre, Sekupang and Waterfront City while ferries from Tanah Merah serve Nongsapura.
From Malaysia
From Indonesia
Visa issues
If you need a visa to enter Indonesia, you will need a visa to visit Batam as well. However, citizens of Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America can get a visa on arrival for either six or thirty days (10 and 25 USD respectively).
Get around
See
Do
Eat
Drink
Stay safe
Get out
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