Indonesia remains Penang’s top international market as Batam flights begin
GEORGE TOWN: Penang’s growing appeal to Indonesian visitors is set to receive a boost with Batik Air launching a direct Batam-Penang service, opening a new air link between two destinations with shared tourism, business and healthcare interests.
The thrice-weekly service adds Batam as the fifth Indonesian city with direct flights to Penang, offering greater convenience for travellers while creating fresh opportunities for tourism and medical travel, said State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai.
READ MORE: Ferry to Batam catches fire, all 62 passengers including M’sians are safe
READ MORE: Police confirm Malaysian arrested in Batam for links to syabu lab
“Indonesia has long been an important part of Penang’s tourism story. It is our number-one source market for international arrivals and also ranks first in direct flight frequency to Penang,” he said at the inaugural flight ceremony at Penang International Airport on Sunday (Oct 18).
The inaugural flight, OD359, departed from Batam’s Hang Nadim International Airport at 11.30am local time on Sunday and arrived in Penang at 1.40pm.
The return flight, OD358, departed Penang at 10.10am and arrived in Batam at 10.50am local time. The service initially operates on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, connecting Penang with Batam, about 632km away.
Published schedules indicate that the operating days will change to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Oct 27. Batam joins Jakarta, Surabaya, Banda Aceh and Medan as Penang’s fifth Indonesian city with direct air connections, strengthening links with a market that is central to the state’s tourism and healthcare sectors.
Wong said the route would also improve access to the wider Riau Islands, creating opportunities to attract more visitors for leisure, medical treatment and business.
The launch follows a tourism roadshow Wong led to Batam the previous week, during which the Penang delegation met travel industry partners, promoted the state’s attractions and explored ways to draw more visitors from Batam and the surrounding region.
“Today, we are delighted to follow that engagement by welcoming this inaugural flight.
“The roadshow helped introduce the possibilities. This direct service now makes it easier for travellers to experience them.”
The state will work with airline, travel, hospitality and healthcare partners to develop attractive travel packages, turn interest into bookings and encourage repeat visits, he added.
The new connection is expected to make travel more convenient for Indonesians seeking medical treatment in Penang, while also encouraging leisure, business and family visits.
It could also spur more Penang residents to visit Batam, supporting tourism and people-topeople exchanges in both directions. The potential is backed by strong travel figures.
Wong cited 340,274 Indonesian travellers arriving at Penang International Airport via direct international flights between January and November 2025, making Indonesia the state’s largest inbound market.
China ranked second with 193,215 arrivals over the same period. Immigration Department figures also showed that Indonesian arrivals at Penang International Airport rose 6.74% to 369,088 in 2024, from 345,786 in 2023. Healthcare is another key draw.
Penang’s medical tourism sector treated 527,176 foreign patients at 16 private hospitals in 2025, an increase of 25.94% from 418,608 in 2024.
The sector generated about RM1.14 billion in revenue, according to figures reported by Wong in May.
These figures cover international patients of all nationalities, not Indonesians alone. Beyond healthcare, Penang offers visitors a mix of heritage, nature and food.
Attractions include George Town’s Unesco World Heritage Site and Penang Hill, alongside coastal scenery, cultural sites and local communities across the island and mainland.
“Our food reflects the coming together of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Peranakan cultures, offering flavours that may feel familiar to Indonesian visitors while revealing something distinctly Penang,” said Wong.
He encouraged visitors to explore more of the state beyond their main reason for travelling, whether for holidays, business, family visits or healthcare.
The route also supports tourism initiatives linked to Visit Malaysia 2026, Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 and Visit Malaysia 2027.
Wong said Penang would continue working with its partners to strengthen the state’s presence in Indonesia and ensure the service developed into a sustainable route that benefited both destinations.