Pangkalpinang – Optimism about the future of tourism in Kepulauan Bangka Belitung Province (Babel) emerged from a podcast themed "The Future of Babel Tourism" held in Pangkalpinang on Wednesday (6/10/2026). The discussion brought together various stakeholders from the tourism and hospitality sectors to talk about opportunities, challenges, and the direction of tourism development in Babel over the next five to ten years.
Representing the Head of the provincial Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Sports office of Babel, Anugrah Gusta Prima, participated as a speaker along with General Manager of Tanjung Pesona Beach Resort, Then Yohanes, Secretary of PHRI Bangka Belitung, Wendo Irwanto, General Manager of Bangka City Hotel, Sumiati, General Manager of Hotel Santika Bangka, Krisna, and General Manager of Swiss-Bel Hotel Pangkalpinang, Dewi Noviarini. The event was hosted by Edy Yusmanto.
Anugrah explained that Babel's tourism reached an important turning point since the boom of the Rainbow Troops film in 2008, which successfully introduced Babel to a national level. This momentum was then strengthened by the Visit Babel Archipelago program in 2011, which further increased its popularity as a tourist destination.
“The film sparked public’s curiosity to get to know Bangka and Belitung. The tourism sector has grown quite rapidly thence,” he said.
According to him, Babel offered its beautiful beaches, rich culture, unique cuisine, historical tourism, geoparks, and even sport tourism potential. In addition, the growth in the number of hotels and tourism support facilities has also continued to increase year by year.
He mentioned that in 2025, the number of tourists visiting Bangka Belitung was expected to reach around 600 thousand visitors. Assuming the average tourist spent around Rp3 million to Rp4 million per visit, the economic turnover generated was estimated to reach about Rp2.4 trillion.
"The impact isn’t always felt directly, but it creates a big multiplier effect. Tourists need accommodation, food, transportation, and souvenirs, which ultimately drive the local economy," he said.
Anugrah also highlighted the importance of connectivity as a key factor in developing tourism in island regions. The planned opening of the Belitung–Singapore flight route by Scoot and the resumption of the Bangka–Batam route by Wings Air were expected to expand accessibility and boost tourist visits.
Furthermore, he explained that Bangka Island has long been known as a MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention, and Exhibition) and business travel destination. Moving forward, the Provincial Government was encouraging a transformation towards higher-quality and more sustainable tourism by increasing visits from tourists who spent more.
Based on preliminary data for 2026, tourist visit trends show positive growth. Up to April 2026, the number of tourist visits has increased compared to the same period last year. International tourist visits also reach around 2,000 people.
Meanwhile, General Manager of Tanjung Pesona Beach Resort, Then Yohanes, believed that now was the right moment for everyone in the tourism industry to strengthen collaboration. According to him, synergy between the government, business players, and the community was a key to making Bangka Belitung a top tourist destination.
A similar view was shared by General Manager of Bangka City Hotel, Sumiati, who emphasized the importance of market diversification so that the hotel sector didn't only rely on MICE activities. She hoped that memorable travel experiences can encourage tourists to visit Bangka Belitung again.
On the other hand, General Manager of Swiss-Bel Hotel Pangkalpinang, Dewi Noviarini, expressed her admiration for the beauty of the beaches and the culinary richness of Bangka. According to her, local cuisine had great potential to become a major attraction that could strengthen Babel's tourism image both nationally and internationally.
The speakers agreed that with better collaboration among all stakeholders, and the development of tourism potential and the creative economy, Bangka Belitung has a great opportunity to grow as a high-quality, competitive, and sustainable tourist destination in the future.
