Province

Bangka Belitung

Overview Economy

Bangka Belitung, heaven of tin mining and natural tourism

Located off the eastern coast of Sumatra, the archipelagic province of Bangka Belitung comprises several smaller islets along with its two main islands, Bangka and Belitung. Following its formal recognition as a separate province from South Sumatra in 2000, Bangka Belitung became the 31st province of Indonesia.

As of 2023, Bangka Belitung is home to a population of 1.52 million people, marking the province as the least populous in Sumatra island. The communities are comprised of seven big religions, Islam (48.92 percent), Buddhism (24.19 percent), Confucianism (14.59 percent), Christianity (6.08 percent), Catholicism (2.76 percent), Taoism (4.16 percent), and Hinduism (0.08 percent).

Bangka Belitung’s natural landscape is characterized by rainforests, mangrove forests, foliage, and oceans, which are home to a diverse array of marine life, including sea turtles, manta rays, and coral reefs filled with tropical species. One of the province’s most renowned natural features is the granite rock formations that dot the countryside. Additionally, Bangka Belitung boasts beaches such as Tanjung Tinggi Beach in Belitung, renowned for its golden sands and blue waters, and Parai Beach in Bangka, famous for its sunsets.

Beyond its natural splendor, Bangka Belitung is a melting pot of diverse cultures and traditions. The province is home to a blend of Malay, Chinese, and indigenous cultures, which have influenced the region's cuisine, architecture, and way of life. Traditional Malay houses adorned with intricate woodcarvings can be found in the province, along with bustling markets teeming with fresh seafood and spices.

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Economic development

Bangka Belitung’s economy has experienced a positive trend in recent years, with its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) increasing from Rp 57 trillion in 2022 to Rp 60 trillion in 2023. The processing industry sector contributed the most to the GRDP in 2023 with Rp 12.7 trillion or 21.15 percent, followed by the agriculture sector with Rp 7.4 trillion or 19.49 percent, and the trade sector with Rp 8.6 trillion or 15.69 percent.

Notably, the name "Bangka" in Bangka Belitung is derived from the Sanskrit word Wangka meaning tin, which has historically been the mainstay of the local economy. Tin mining in the province started in the first century during the Palembang Empire, and since then, the province has been a significant contributor to national tin mining output, accounting for around 90 percent. This substantial contribution has made Indonesia the world’s second-largest tin reserve holder, after China, with reserves totaling 800,000 tonnes.

However, the mining sector’s contribution to Bangka Belitung’s GRDP declined by a negative 1.20 percent in 2023, indicating a shift in the province’s economic independence from natural resources to other socioeconomic resources.

Nevertheless, despite this shift, the mining sector remains Bangka Belitung’s most lucrative business opportunity, with Rp 1.9 trillion in investment growth in 2023. This was followed by investments in the metals industry at Rp 1.8 trillion, the food industry at Rp 1.1 trillion, and agriculture at Rp 962 billion. Overall, the province received Rp 9 trillion in investment in 2023, including Rp 1.07 trillion from foreign investors and Rp 7,9 trillion from domestic investors.

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Latest News

May 14, 2025

The 2025 Pesona Belitung Beach Festival (PBBF) held from May 9 to 11, 2025, successfully attracted thousands of visitors by involving more than 1,120 local artists. This festival presents lively entertainment and has a positive impact on the Belitung Regency economy of the Belitung community, especially to the tourism and creative economy sectors.

Belitung Regency Tourism Office Head Annyta explained that PBBF 2025 involved artists from 56 groups in the area. They held various artistic performances, ranging from dance, music, to various other artistic expressions that led to a lively atmosphere and attracted the attention of thousands of visitors who attended.

"We involved 1,120 artists from various fields during the three days of PBBF. This event also attracted more than 13,000 visitors," said Annyta on May 12, 2025.

PBBF 2025 also involved 110 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and creative economy actors who exhibited and sold various regional products.

"This is part of our efforts to encourage local economic growth. The transaction value recorded during the festival reached around Rp700 million, a fairly large figure amid current economic conditions," he added.

Another interesting activity during PBBF 2025 was the beach clean-up involving tourism actors and about 800 elementary school students around Tanjungpandan District, Belitung Regency.

The organizing of PBBF 2025, which is listed in the Tourism Ministry's Karisma Event Nusantara 2025 calendar of cultural festivals, aims to maintain environmental cleanliness and invites the younger generation to participate in preserving nature.

PBBF 2025 successfully combines art entertainment, economic contributions, and environmental concerns, making it an event that is commercially profitable and strengthens the collective awareness of culture and the environment in Belitung.

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