Number of Foreign Tourists in Indonesia Rises to 2 Million in Q1-2013
According to data from Statistics Indonesia (Badan Pusat Statistik), Indonesia was visited by over 725 thousand foreign visitors in March 2013, up 10.1 percent compared to the same month last year. The Indonesian government has set the ambitious target of welcoming a total of nine million foreign tourists in 2013. In 2014, it wants at least 10 million foreigners to visit Indonesia. The government expects these increases to originate mainly from the Asia-Pacific region itself.
In total, more than two million foreign visitors entered Indonesia in calender year 2013 (January-March). This constitutes a six percent rise compared to Q1-2012. According to minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mari Elka Pangestu, it is a very good sign for Indonesia's tourism industry that foreign visitor growth reached double digits in February and March. It will increase the sector's contribution towards the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and provide more employment opportunities for the people. The minister believes that the growth in foreign visitors is attributable to last year's government promotion campaign and the opening of new airline routes to foreign destinations.
Tourist arrivals in 2013:
| January 2013 |
February 2013 |
March 2013 |
Total 2013 (Jan-Mar) |
|
| Total Number of Foreign Tourists |
614,328 | 678,415 | 725,316 | 2,018,059 |
Tourists arrivals in recent years:
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013¹ | 2014¹ | |
| Foreign Tourists (in millions) |
5.51 | 6.23 | 6.32 | 7.00 | 7.65 | 8.04 | 9.00 | 10.00 |
¹ indicates government target
Source: Statistics Indonesia