134 Tourism Players Unite Under JIWA To Boost Malaysia-Indonesia Travel

From Hasnah Jusid

RIAU, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- A total of 134 tourism industry players from Riau and the Riau Islands in Indonesia, along with Melaka and Johor in Malaysia, have joined Platform Jiran Istimewa (JIWA), a special border treatment initiative aimed at strengthening cross-border tourism promotion in the southern border regions of the Peninsula.

Johor Bahru Indonesian consul general Sigit S. Widiyanto revealed that 49 of the participants hail from the Riau Islands, 41 from Riau, 35 from Johor and nine from Melaka.

By simply presenting their Riau or Riau Islands identity card or an ID card bearing Melaka or Johor codes, residents from these neighbouring territories can enjoy exclusive benefits, including discounts offered by participating tourism operators under the JIWA programme.

“This initiative encourages complementary tourism sectors across both countries, ranging from health tourism and shopping to culinary experiences and theme parks. The broad participation signals immense potential for tourism cooperation between regions that share close geographical, social, cultural and historical ties.

“JIWA is a clear example of how strong border relations can deliver tangible benefits directly to the people,” he said after the launch of the Melaka-Riau JIWA platform at the Pekan Budaya Melayu Serumpun 2025 event held on Jalan Sultan Syarif Qasim, Pekanbaru in Riau, last Saturday.

Also present were Malaysia’s consul general in Pekanbaru, Mohammed Hosnie Shahiran Ismail and acting regional secretary of Riau Province, M Job Kurniawan.

The Melaka–Riau JIWA platform builds on the earlier Johor–Riau Islands initiative launched in May. The public can view participating tourism operators on the official website at https://www.jiran-istimewa.com.

In a recent development, Sigit revealed that e-hailing giant Grab has joined JIWA, offering discounted rides valid in Riau and the Riau Islands for visitors from Melaka and Johor.

He added that the Riau launch completes the platform’s rollout across the two Indonesian provinces, with official launches in Johor and Melaka expected soon.

“Our goal is for all four regions to formally launch JIWA, whether as a main event or part of existing programmes, so the world can witness a tangible cross-border partnership that directly benefits border communities,” Sigit said.

He highlighted that JIWA aligns with the outcomes of the Annual Consultation Meeting between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on July 29, which emphasised strengthening tourism cooperation through innovative approaches.

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s consul general, Mohammed Hosnie, expressed hope that more industry players would join JIWA, viewing it as a major catalyst in deepening the bond between the peoples of both nations through shared benefits.

“Based on data from the Riau Tourism Department, an average of 400 Riau residents visit Malaysia daily. Entrepreneurs in Melaka should seize this advantage by participating in JIWA,” he said.

Meanwhile, Job explained that the initiative emerged from discussions at the Malaysia-Indonesia Socio-Economic Meeting, a bilateral forum involving border states and provinces.

He said, the objective of the platform is to unlock more strategic cooperation opportunities across tourism, education, and employment sectors.

“The people of Riau frequently travel and seek healthcare in neighbouring Johor and Melaka. If one million Riau residents spend an average of 10 million rupiah annually there, that is equivalent to the region’s annual sales revenue,” Job emphasised.

-- BERNAMA