Nikoi Island, Indonesia

Nikoi is a 16.9-hectare (42-acre) resort island located 8 kilometres (5 mi) off the east coast of Bintan, Indonesia, approximately 85 kilometres (53 mi) southeast of Singapore.^[1][2] The island was purchased by Andrew and Julia Dixon, an Australian couple visiting Bintan, in 2005 and developed, with the aid of a group of financiers, into a boutique resort named Nikoi Island.^[3][4] The resort opened in 2007, and as of 2010 consists of fifteen beach houses.^[5]

The island has a maximum height of thirty metres, and consists of white sand beaches studded with white granite boulders, with coral reef off-shore. Two thirds of the island is Banyan forest, home to various bird species, while turtles are said to nest on the island's beaches.^[6]

The resort is marketed as an eco-resort, with the use of driftwood as a construction material and alang alang roofing, a double-layered roof design so that rooms do not require air conditioning, and solar panels for heating water.^[7] Diesel generators are required for water pumping and refrigeration.^[5] As part of the operators' commitment to sustainable tourism, a non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting the community was established in 2009.^[8] The resort was a runner-up in Wild Asia's 2009 Responsible Tourism Awards (Mid-size to Small Accommodation Operators category)^[9]

The resort is accessed by launch from Kawal, a small town on Bintan, one hour's drive from the Bintan Resorts ferry terminal.^[10]

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ Peters, Ed (2007-06-16). "Barefoot Luxury in Indonesia". Time. http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1642444_1867336_1867333,00.html. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
3. ^ Lam, Sophie (2009-05-30). "Island idyll in Indonesia". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/asia/island-idyll-in-indonesia-1693027.html. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
4. ^ "About the Island Foundation". http://www.theislandfoundation.com/about_us.html. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
5. ^ ^{a b} http://www.nikoi.com/about.html
6. ^ Leong Siok Hui (2009-05-23). "Green luxury". The Star Online. http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/5/23/lifetravel/3879362&sec=lifetravel. 
7. ^ "Behind the scenes". The Star Online. 2009-05-23. http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/5/23/lifetravel/3948840&sec=lifetravel. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
8. ^ [2]
9. ^ "Highlights of Responsible Tourism Awards 2009". http://www.wildasia.org/main.cfm/RT/RT_Awards_2009. Retrieved 2010-03-14. 
10. ^ [3]

External links

• Resort Web Site

Coordinates: 1°03′08″N 104°42′32″E / 1.0521°N 104.7088°E / 1.0521; 104.7088