Foreign Visitor Arrivals to Indonesia Increase 7.2% in Semester I-2013
The number of foreign tourists that visited Indonesia in the first six months of 2013 grew 7.2 percent to 4.15 million compared to the same period in 2012. Elka Pangestu, minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, said that there has been a significant surge in visitors from Asia and the Middle East. Foreign visitor arrivals originating from the United Arab Emirates rose 91 percent, followed by Saudi Arabia (22.8 percent), China (19.2 percent), Egypt (17.1 percent) and Hong Kong (16 percent).
Figures from Asia and the Middle East have risen significantly as the government has been busy conducting marketing and promotional activities in those regions. Indonesia's government has also increased marketing activities in Europe and expects to see results in the peak season (July and August). In June 2013, a surge in European tourists has already been detected. Russian tourist arrivals increased 25 percent, tourists from the Netherlands and Germany grew 15 percent, and French tourists increased by 12.8 percent.
Indonesia's ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy expects that the total number of foreign visitors in 2013 will reach between 8.3 and 8.9 million. As about half of that target has been met during Semester I-2013, the ministry is convinced that its goal will be reached.
Tourist arrivals in 2013:
| January 2013 |
February 2013 |
March 2013 |
April 2013 |
May 2013 |
June 2013 |
Total 2013 (Jan-June) |
|
| Total Number of Foreign Tourists |
614,328 | 678,415 | 725,316 | 646,117 | 700,708 | 789,594 | 4,154,478 |
Tourists arrivals in recent years and future forecasts:
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013¹ | 2014¹ | |
| Foreign Tourists (in millions) |
5.51 | 6.23 | 6.32 | 7.00 | 7.65 | 8.04 | 8.50 | 10.00 |
¹ indicates government target
Source: Statistics Indonesia