More than 6 Million Foreign Tourists Visited Indonesia in 2008

Tuesday, 06 January, 2009 | 21:10 WIB 

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia during 2008 was 6,4 million people, a 16.85 percent increase from the previous year. However, the number is lower than the targeted 7 million tourists. Tourists still came from the main entry points, such as the Soekarno-Hatta, Ngurah Rai and Minangkabau airports. "An increase in tourist visits is still expected as the Visit Indonesia Year continues," Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) director, Agus Suherman, said yesterday. 

In November 2008, an increase of 43.66 percent happened in Minangkabau Airport in Padang, followed by a 16.46 percent increase in Juanda Airport in Surabaya, and a 16.46 percent increase in Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar. Meanwhile, a decline was seen in Adi Sumarno Airport in Solo (33.89 percent), Entikong, West Kalimantan (4.13 percent), Hangnadim, Batam (1.52 percent) and Polonia, Medan (0.52 percent). 

Vacancy rates at star-rated hotels in 14 provinces in Indonesia on October 2008 recorded an average of 45.83 percent. Bali was in first place with 69.06 percent, followed by Yogyakarta with 59.34 percent. 

VENNIE MELYANI