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The government will have to work hard to meet its Visit
Indonesia 2008 target of seven million foreign arrivals.
Indonesia saw 5.51 million foreign tourist arrivals last year, up 13
percent from 4.87 million in 2006, the Central Statistics Agency said
Friday.
Due primarily to higher spending per visit, the increasing number of
tourist arrivals generated US$5.3 billion in foreign exchange income
last year, up from $4.4 billion in 2006.
Of the country's 15 main points of entry, Ngurah Rai airport in Bali
recorded the highest number of arrivals in 2006, with 1.74 million
visitors, up by 3.95 percent from 1.32 million the year before.
"The rising number of tourist arrivals, mainly through Ngurah Rai,
indicates progress in Indonesia's tourism sector", the agency's deputy
chairman for distribution and service Ali Rosidi said in a press
briefing.
Meanwhile, the Minangkabau entry point experienced the steepest drop in
foreign arrivals; they were down 20.92 percent, primarily due to an
earthquake, the agency said.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism recently launched the Visit
Indonesia program which targets US$6.3 million in foreign exchange
revenue in 2008.
Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, is still recovering from
deadly terrorist attacks in the resort island of Bali in 2002 and 2005
and as well as similar incidents on a much smaller scale in Jakarta.
Foreign reporting on bird flu virus has also discouraged many foreign
tourists from coming to Indonesia, despite the country's numerous
attractive tourist spots.
Lack of promotion also contributes to the sluggish growth. The
government has said its budget is only $15 million for promoting
tourism this year.
The agency said that in December the country's total tourist arrivals
reached 431,000, a mere 10.20 percent increase over the 390,800
arrivals recorded in the same period of 2006.
According to the agency, from November to December, the country
recorded a 7.86 percent increase with 431,001 arrivals, as against
399,609 in the same period of 2006.
Foreign tourists spent about $107.70 per day, up by 7.19 percent from
around $100.48 in 2006. But the rise is mostly driven by soaring
inflation in the country's consumer prices.
The average expenses per visit figure in 2007 was $970.98, higher than
$913.09 in 2006, the agency said.
Also, foreign tourists aren't staying as long, as indicated by an
agency report showing average length of stay declined to 9.02 days last
year from 9.09 days in 2006.
Analysts said a lack of transportation and recreational facilities
discouraged tourists from staying longer.
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