Tourist arrivals increase by only 7 percent
Tourist arrivals increase by only 7 percent
JAKARTA (JP): The government announced yesterday that the
country's revenues from foreign tourists are estimated to
increase by 10.8 percent to US$5.21 billion this year, up from
$4.7 billion in 1994.
Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave told
a press conference that the number of tourist arrivals, however,
increased by only 7.3 percent to 4.3 million this year from last
year's level of slightly above four million.
The government, according to its five-year development plan,
expected 4.5 million foreign tourists to visit Indonesia this
year, bringing revenues of, at least, $6 billion. The number of
tourist arrivals is projected to further increase to about five
million to 5.4 million in 1996, bringing revenues of $6.91
billion.
Indonesia, targeting the tourist industry as a major foreign
exchange earner by 2005, expects to attract 11.1 million visitors
who will spend a total of $15 billion in the country.
The promotion of the country's tourist industry was hampered
early this year when the Japanese press reported that dozens of
tourists from Japan became ill with cholera after returning from
Bali, even though there was actually no outbreak of the disease
on the resort island. The issue subsided after top tourist and
health officials from Indonesia and Japan held discussions.
Director General of Tourism Andi Mappi Sammeng said here
yesterday that the bilateral discussions involved his Japanese
counterpart, as well as top officials of the health offices of
the two countries.
Garuda Indonesia, the country's flag carrier, acknowledged
that the load factor for its Indonesia-Japan flight service this
year was on a downward trend until August.
Japan and four other countries -- Singapore, Australia, Taiwan
and Germany -- are major sources of tourists for Indonesia. In
1994 over half of all tourists, 56.83 percent, came from these
five countries.
Official data show that of the four million foreign tourists
visiting Indonesia last year, 1.01 million came from Singapore,
476,456 from Japan, 305,209 from Australia, 317,505 from Taiwan
and 160,325 from Germany.
Joop also said yesterday that domestic investments committed
for the establishment of tourist-related projects reached Rp 3.77
billion during the first 11 months of this year, while foreign
investments committed for similar projects reached $781.02
million.
He said that to cope with the future development of the
tourist industry, the country will establish and expand relevant
infrastructure facilities, including airports.
A total of 23 airports all over Indonesia have been opened as
international gateways in a bid to boost the tourism industry.
(icn)