Bangka-Belitung Islands

The Bangka-Belitung Islands is a province of Indonesia, previously a part of South Sumatra Province. Lying off Sumatra, the province comprises two main islands, Bangka and Belitung, and several smaller ones. In 2010 its population was 1,223,048. The capital is Pangkal Pinang.

The Bangka Strait separates Sumatra and Bangka, and the Gaspar Strait separates Bangka and Belitung. The South China Sea is to the north, the Java Sea is to the south, and the province is separated from Borneo in the east by the Karimata Strait.

History

Most of the first Chinese workers who came to Indonesia were men (mainly Hakka people). They began assimilating with local people and intermarriages followed, residents coexisting peacefully in spite of differences in religion and ethnicity. When anti-Chinese riots occurred in some parts of Indonesia at the end of the Soeharto regime in 1998, local people and those of Chinese descent lived peacefully in the Bangka Belitung province.

The province was formerly part of South Sumatra, but became a separate province along with Banten and Gorontalo in 2000.

Health

According to the Indonesian Health Department, Bangka-Belitung is highly malarious area, with an annual malaria incidence rate of 29.3/1000 population.

Tourism

Bangka-Belitung Islands have many beaches and several small islands. Some beaches are famous for their natural attractiveness with blue sea waters, variety of coral reefs, white sand, and giant granite rock formations. Thus, Bangka-Belitung beaches have attracted tourists from around the world. The most well known beaches in Bangka Island are Pasir Padi, Matras, Parai Tenggiri, Tanjung Pesona, Rambak, Teluk Limau, Teluk Uber, Tanjung Penyusuk,Tanjung Kalian, and Tanjung Kerasak.

Whereas Belitung Island beaches are Tanjung Kiras, Tanjung Pendam, Tanjung Tinggi, Tanjung Kelayang Beach, Tanjung Binga, Panyaeran Beach, Tanjung Kubu, Teluk Gembira, and Tanjung Ru Beach. Most of the beaches in Belitung features the sites for diving, scuba, snorkeling, fishing and sailing.

Historical population Year Pop. ±% 1971 507,231 — 1980 653,897 +28.9% 1990 822,900 +25.8% 2000 900,197 +9.4% 2010 1,223,296 +35.9% Source: Statistics Indonesia 2010. Bangka-Belitung part of South Sumatra Province until 2000