THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FORCES THAT HAVE INFLUENCED THE DEVELOPMENT OF BINTAN BEACH INTERNATIONAL RESORT (BBIR)

Abstract

Bintan Beach International Resort (BBIR) is an integrated family resort with golf, land and sea recreation facilities and resort accommodation located at Pulau Bintan in the Riau Islands just 42 kilometres south of Singapore and just 45 minutes by high¬ speed ferry. The development of BBIR is the result of an agreement between the Indonesian and Singapore governments to jointly promote tourism and to develop the Riau Islands. There are seven political, social and economic forces that have influenced and induced the development of BBIR, and this dissertation presents analysis of these primary forces. The seven forces are (1) Singapore's geopolitical importance, (2) Singapore's lack of labour, land and natural resources, (3) Singapore's economic prosperity, (4) growth of tourism and expansion of world trade, (5) Indonesia's abundance of labour, land and natural resources, (6) Indonesia's centralised population and (7) Indonesia's lower per capita income. These forces have given birth to the Singapore-Malaysia- Indonesia Growth Triangle Concept that geographically include Bintan. Both the Indonesian and Singapore government have implemented policies to promote the Growth Triangle and, hence the development of BBIR. Among these, are longer, guaranteed land tenures, participation and management by government-1inked companies and the opening of new ferry terminals resulting in reduced travelling time have been the most influential.