Singaporean tourists are voicing frustration over the dramatic increase in ferry ticket prices to Batam, Indonesia, following the pandemic. An investigation into potential price-fixing by ferry operators is currently underway.
After travel restrictions were lifted in January 2022, tourists returning to Batam were met with significantly higher ferry prices, with costs more than doubling. This has prompted an investigation by Indonesian authorities into potential collusion among ferry operators.
Travelers from Singapore to Batam have encountered a sharp rise in return ticket prices, soaring to between SGD 67 to SGD 74 (Rp.900,000 to Rp.1 million IDR), compared to pre-pandemic prices ranging from SGD 22.68 to SGD 37.80 (Rp.270,000 to Rp.450,000 IDR).
Regular visitors like Zheng Huang, who previously visited Batam for leisure every weekend, have had to cut back their trips significantly due to the increased costs, affecting both tourists’ plans and local businesses relying on tourism.
The Indonesian Business Competition Supervisory Commission began probing these price increases in 2022 after complaints from passengers. Initial findings suggest possible collusion among operators to set uniformly high prices, eliminating competition.
Notably, ferry prices between Batam and Johor Baru remain lower despite a longer journey, highlighting the unusual price spike on the Batam-Singapore route.
Read More: Calls for Action on Batam-Singapore Ferry Fare Hike
A multi-agency task force, including the Ministry of Transport and the Batam Development Agency, is engaged in discussions to address the pricing issue, with further meetings planned to include ferry operators.
The ongoing issue with ferry ticket prices to Batam represents not just a financial barrier to travel but also raises concerns about the fairness of pricing practices in the region. Resolving this could help restore Batam’s appeal as an accessible weekend getaway and ensure competitive and fair market practices in the ferry industry.
The steep increase in ferry prices from Singapore to Batam post-pandemic has led to significant discontent among tourists and prompted an official investigation into possible collusion among ferry operators. This controversy highlights the impact of travel costs on regional tourism and the importance of maintaining transparent pricing mechanisms to foster a healthy travel industry.
