{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1490598,
        "msgid": "foreign-arrivals-hit-6-year-high-1447893297",
        "date": "2004-05-05 00:00:00",
        "title": "Foreign arrivals hit 6-year high",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Foreign arrivals hit 6-year high Fitri Wulandari, Jakarta Foreign arrivals in the country hit a six-year high of 1.03 million in the first quarter of this year despite the introduction of a stricter immigration policy and security concerns due to the general election. Slamet Mukeno, deputy chief of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), said foreign tourist arrivals from January to March of this year increased 20.61 percent from 857,533 people in the first quarter of last year.",
        "content": "<p>Foreign arrivals hit 6-year high<\/p>\n<p>Fitri Wulandari, Jakarta<\/p>\n<p>Foreign arrivals in the country hit a six-year high of 1.03<br>\nmillion in the first quarter of this year despite the<br>\nintroduction of a stricter immigration policy and security<br>\nconcerns due to the general election.<\/p>\n<p>Slamet Mukeno, deputy chief of the Central Statistics Agency<br>\n(BPS), said foreign tourist arrivals from January to March of<br>\nthis year increased 20.61 percent from 857,533 people in the<br>\nfirst quarter of last year.<\/p>\n<p>\"The introduction of the visa on arrival in May has not<br>\ndampened their interest in coming to Indonesia. Maybe they don't<br>\nconsider the procedure too complicated,\" Slamet said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>The government came under fire for introducing the visa on<br>\narrival for citizens of a number of countries, for which they are<br>\ncharged US$25 and given only 30 days in the country. Previously<br>\ntourists were given a 60-day entry permit at no cost.<\/p>\n<p>Critics said it would hurt the tourist industry, which is<br>\nstill trying to overcome the devastating impact of the Bali<br>\nbombing in 2002, the SARS epidemic and the JW Marriott Hotel<br>\nbombing in Jakarta last year.<\/p>\n<p>According to Presidential Decree No. 103\/2003 dated Dec. 17,<br>\n2003, citizens from 11 countries are eligible for the visa-free<br>\nfacility. Previously it was extended to citizens from 48<br>\ncountries.<\/p>\n<p>Foreign arrivals in the first quarter of this year is the<br>\nhighest in six years. Since 1998 to 2003, foreign arrivals in the<br>\nfirst quarter never reached one million. It only reached 992,020<br>\nin 2002 before plunging to 857,533 in 2003.<\/p>\n<p>The government is optimistic that it will meet its five<br>\nmillion target for foreign arrivals this year.<\/p>\n<p>The relatively peaceful election campaign in March also<br>\ncontributed to the sharp increase in first quarter tourist<br>\narrivals, Slamet said.<\/p>\n<p>Thirteen main gateways recorded 354,291 foreign arrivals in<br>\nMarch, a 10.17 percent increase from February's 321,576. Foreign<br>\narrivals in March this year was up 22.84 percent from the same<br>\nperiod last year, BPS reported.<\/p>\n<p>Bali, the country's most popular tourist destination, also saw<br>\na significant increase in foreign arrivals. In March, 104,400<br>\nforeigners visited the island, a 16.92 percent increase from<br>\nFebruary's 89,300.<\/p>\n<p>Average length of stay in star-rated hotels only increased<br>\nslightly to 2.09 days in February, a 0.05 percent increase from<br>\nJanuary's 2.04 days.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foreign-arrivals-hit-6-year-high-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}