Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread

[Makashi]

Just need to drink more cewek juice la...

[Black Page]

Originally Posted by nitecrawllerr

Tot you are PR there leow. Still need to learn Indon language?

Touché
Unfortunately, I know just a small set of words and I cannot have any serious conversation without the help of Translate.
I am too lazy to study bahasa when I am in Italy, and being in Batam only few days every several months does not allow me to learn.
However, that book is GREAT. A real must to begin.

[chotachetan]

book available free on libgen

[penyet]

Looks like the hi ferry prices getting attention from Indo authorities.
Complication due to ferry parent companies based in Sgp.

S’pore passengers unhappy over high Batam ferry prices as Indonesia probes possible price-fixing

UPDATED JUN 01, 2024, 08:07 PM
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Indonesia’s independent business watchdog disclosed that it has launched a probe into potential collusion and price-fixing among ferry operators on the route.

The probe began in 2022 following complaints from passengers, and local media reported about the investigation on May 29.

On May 29, Indonesia’s Business Competition Supervisory Commission revealed that operators charged 800,000 rupiah (S$67) to 900,000 rupiah for a return ticket from January to June 2022, more than twice the usual price of 270,000 rupiah to 450,000 rupiah.

An ST check on the websites of ferry operators found that round-trip tickets from Singapore’s HarbourFront Centre to Indonesia’s Batam Centre International Ferry Terminal cost $34 to $60 in 2021 and $56 to $76 in 2024.

Mr Ridho Pamungkas, the commission’s chief for northern Sumatra region, told ST that four operators are under investigation for alleged cartel practices, with their Singapore-based parent companies yet to be summoned. Attempts by ST to contact the companies have been unsuccessful.

“The prices now are unreasonably high. It appears the businesses have agreed to fix prices at similar high values, so there is no competition between them,” he said.

Mr Ridho noted that ferry ticket prices between Batam and Johor Bahru are lower despite the longer two-hour journey, so the Batam-Singapore fare is “an unhealthy sign”.

The commission has faced “many obstacles” during its investigation over the past two years, such as obtaining information on the operators’ expenses, he said.

“The ferry operators’ management was uncooperative in providing data, making it difficult to gather evidence,” Mr Ridho said, adding that the parent companies being based in Singapore – and thus outside Indonesia’s legal purview – only complicated matters.

The commission’s head office in Jakarta held a focus group meeting with the Transportation Ministry, BP Batam and the Riau Islands provincial administration on May 28 to discuss the high fares and possible collusion.

A follow-up meeting will be held in Batam on June 11, this time with the ferry operators in attendance. “We are committed to resolving this problem,” Mr Ridho said.
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[Black Page]

Originally Posted by chotachetan

book available free on libgen

Definitely, I prefer to buy a real booklet on paper for just 20 SGD rather than getting a pirate soft copy for free.

[ekardo]

Originally Posted by btmchiong

late night only first spa l think but you have to ask for the package first. because it's a family spa with a man spa inside.

Thanks. Google map put ad opened till 11pm only. Is it 24hr?

[Hurricane88]

Originally Posted by penyet

Looks like the hi ferry prices getting attention from Indo authorities.
Complication due to ferry parent companies based in Sgp.

Agreed the price is not worth going to Batam unless have things to do...some of my friends who had been visiting Batam regularly had stopped going...last year only went once...this year had not been....

[Naka_Timo]

Originally Posted by Hurricane88

Agreed the price is not worth going to Batam unless have things to do...some of my friends who had been visiting Batam regularly had stopped going...last year only went once...this year had not been....

I read about the news too.Is good that people bring up and they look into it. Hopefully it will bring down the price and it will sure be win win situation for both. Although is inflation but the price up is really Kuang Zhang.

[Naka_Timo]

Originally Posted by penyet

Looks like the hi ferry prices getting attention from Indo authorities.
Complication due to ferry parent companies based in Sgp.

S’pore passengers unhappy over high Batam ferry prices as Indonesia probes possible price-fixing

Think SG side can try to insert pressure to the Indo counterpart cos Indo side may not do anything

[Hurricane88]

Originally Posted by Naka_Timo

I read about the news too.Is good that people bring up and they look into it. Hopefully it will bring down the price and it will sure be win win situation for both. Although is inflation but the price up is really Kuang Zhang.

What is a reasonable price?....I think not more than S$55...anything more really too much...

Then the authorities want to collect higher departure tax...really sianzzz...anywahere I dun go often...

[nitecrawllerr]

Originally Posted by Naka_Timo

Think SG side can try to insert pressure to the Indo counterpart cos Indo side may not do anything

I thought the Indon authority is investigating. But our spore ferry operators buat bodoh. Spore authority also diam diam. This what i gathered from another forum site.

[Makashi]

Sg govt no merits to lower price, helping send people to spend at other country.

[Black Page]

Originally Posted by Makashi

Sg govt no merits to lower price, helping send people to spend at other country.

You are 100% right. Finally someone says that.

For Ferry Companies, it's market rule: they wish the highest price with which they still sell. We cannot lecture them what is a good price, in a free market.
But is it ok this is a free market without regulations from Authorities? My political view says NO, public transport even between borders should not be left to free market without some regulation from governments.

For Indonesian Authorities, they should push for low prices, because the lower, the more tourists from Singapore come to spend SGD in Batam.

For Singapore Authorities, frankly I do not think this can be a priority in their agenda. They do not care if more Indo people comes from Batam to shop in Singapore, and do not care if Singapore people has something different to do on Sunday than just strolling and shopping in Singapore malls. Singapore economy does not get a boost if ferries are cheaper.

Originally Posted by Hurricane88

Agreed the price is not worth going to Batam unless have things to do...

I have lots of things to do in Batam...

[penyet]

Originally Posted by Black Page

You are 100% right. Finally someone says that.

For Ferry Companies, it's market rule: they wish the highest price with which they still sell. We cannot lecture them what is a good price, in a free market.
But is it ok this is a free market without regulations from Authorities? My political view says NO, public transport even between borders should not be left to free market without some regulation from governments.

It is not a free market but a distortion of a free market if the few players collude to fix the price, as is likely the case here. Something like a monopoly comprising of the few players. Regulation needs to come into play.

For Indonesian Authorities, they should push for low prices, because the lower, the more tourists from Singapore come to spend SGD in Batam.

Yup, clear incentives for Indo authorities to act, and seems they are doing so. They have control in who they allow to berth at their ferry terminals.

For Singapore Authorities, frankly I do not think this can be a priority in their agenda. They do not care if more Indo people comes from Batam to shop in Singapore, and do not care if Singapore people has something different to do on Sunday than just strolling and shopping in Singapore malls. Singapore economy does not get a boost if ferries are cheaper.

Batam is one of the gateways for Indonesians into Sgp, who dominate country arrivals. So not sure if Sgp don't care about this.

I have lots of things to do in Batam...

Really? Please post those lots of things u do in Batam, here.

[Black Page]

Originally Posted by penyet

It is not a free market but a distortion of a free market if the few players collude to fix the price, as is likely the case here.

We are on the same page here.

Originally Posted by penyet

Batam is one of the gateways for Indonesians into Sgp, who dominate country arrivals. So not sure if Sgp don't care about this.

The number of persons is one thing, the amount spent is another thing. Do you have a similar diagram plotting the total expenditure of tourists grouped by country?
It is true that the number of rich Indonesians is increasing, but those who go to Singapore to spend for luxury shopping are not discouraged by the ferry ticket. By the way, big spenders come more to Changi, less to Harbour Front.

Originally Posted by penyet

Really? Please post those lots of things u do in Batam, here.

Let me speculate... you want me to post photos, rather than reports, right?