Tanjungpinang. Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana aims to turn Penyengat Island in Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands Province, into ASEAN’s leading halal tourism and Muslim heritage destination.

During her visit on Thursday, the minister highlighted the island’s historical significance as the birthplace of Raja Ali Haji, a local-born scholar and poet from the Riau-Lingga era whose literary and linguistic works became the foundation of the modern Indonesian language.

Widiyanti said the initiative is part of a broader halal tourism program launched in July 2025 through pilot projects in 20 tourism villages across Indonesia, including Penyengat. As of October 15, a total of 438 MSME products from these tourism villages have received halal certification.

“The program will expand to 1,500 tourism villages in 15 provinces, in collaboration with the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body (BPJPH), as part of the Indonesia Muslim Travel Index 2025,” Widiyanti added.

The minister said she wants Penyengat Island to gain wider recognition both domestically and internationally, particularly among Muslim-majority countries. The Tourism Ministry, she added, remains committed to promoting the historic island abroad through various national tourism programs.

Located just across Tanjungpinang City, the small island blends rich Malay-Islamic heritage, religious values, and local economic potential. “As a center of Malay-Islamic civilization in the 19th century, Penyengat Island carries deep historical and cultural significance. We are optimistic it will grow into ASEAN’s leading Muslim heritage destination,” Widiyanti said.

During her visit, she also presented halal certificates to 24 local MSMEs on the island. She said halal certification would not only enhance product appeal among Muslim travelers but also strengthen Indonesia’s position in the global halal economy.

BPJPH Head Ahmad Haikal Hasan underscored that halal certification is not merely a regulatory requirement but a driver of national economic growth. “Halal certification is the key to boosting Indonesia’s competitiveness. We want ‘halal’ to be more than a label; it must become an economic value that drives community welfare, especially in MSMEs and tourism,” Haikal said.

He noted that in 2024, the value of global halal transactions reached Rp 21,000 trillion ($1.3 billion), yet Indonesia has only tapped around 3.5 percent of that potential.

Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad said the provincial government continues to beautify the island through infrastructure upgrades, cultural storytelling, and the development of 44 historical sites.

The province, together with stakeholders, has also been promoting day and night tourism activities to attract more visitors.

Ansar noted that Penyengat Island remains a favorite among tourists from Malaysia and Singapore, while encouraging more Indonesians to visit and learn about its vital role in shaping the Indonesian language and culture.

“We are confident that Penyengat Island will continue to grow as a halal tourism hub, especially after being named one of Indonesia’s best developing tourism villages twice,” Ansar said.