History of Bintan Island. Bintan Regency was formerly known as Riau Islands Regency. The Riau Islands region has been renowned for centuries, not only within the archipelago but also on the international stage. The area is characterized by thousands of islands—both large and small—scattered across the South China Sea.
Consequently, the moniker “a handful of peppercorns” aptly describes the sheer number of islands in the region. Between 1722 and 1911, two sovereign Malay kingdoms held sway: the Riau-Lingga Kingdom, with its capital in Daik, and the Riau Malay Kingdom on Bintan Island.
Long before the signing of the Treaty of London, these two Malay kingdoms had united into a single, more powerful entity. Their territory extended beyond the Riau Islands to encompass Johor and Malacca (in Malaysia), Singapore, and a small portion of Indragiri Hilir. The kingdom’s capital was located on Penyengat Island, a place renowned throughout the archipelago and the Malay Peninsula.
Following the death of the Sultan of Riau in 1911, the Dutch East Indies government appointed administrators—designated as *District-hoofden* for larger areas and *Onder-district-hoofden* for smaller ones—to govern the region.
The Dutch East Indies government eventually consolidated the Riau-Lingga and Indragiri territories into a single residency, which was subsequently divided into two *Afdelingen* (administrative divisions): 1. The Tanjungpinang *Afdeling*, comprising the Riau-Lingga Islands, Indragiri Hilir, and Kateman; centered in Tanjungpinang and led by a Resident. 2. The Indragiri *Afdeling*, centered in Rengat and led by an Assistant Resident under the authority of the Resident. In 1940, this residency was designated as the Riau Residency, incorporating the Bengkalis *Afdeling* (East Sumatra); Subsequently, during the 1945–1949 period, a decree issued by the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies dated July 17, 1947 (No. …) was implemented. A *Zelfbestuur* territory (the Riau region) was thereby established.
Currently, Bintan Island is divided into two areas: 1.Tanjung Pinang City 2.Bintan Regency. Tanjung Pinang is developing into an urban and shopping hub, while Bintan is becoming a tourism and industrial zone. Bintan has rapidly developed into a dedicated tourism area—featuring the Lagoi and Trikora resorts—and an industrial zone located in Lobam. Hotels ranging from 3 to 5 stars are found in the Lagoi resort area, while 3- to 4-star hotels are located in the Trikora resort area. Prices vary widely, ranging from budget-friendly to high-end options, allowing you to choose the accommodation that best suits your needs.
Bintan Island itself has two international ports (Sri Bintan Pura in Tanjung Pinang and the Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal at Lagoi Resort Bintan) and one domestic port (Bulan Linggi Ferry Terminal in Tanjung Uban), as well as one airport: Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport (Tanjung Pinang).
