Indonesia is anticipating that the neighboring countries of Singapore and Malaysia will contribute the most to the country's tourist visit target until 2014. Thus, Indonesia is now focussing on attracting more tourists from those two countries.

"Singapore and Malaysia, the two emerging economies in Southeast Asia, are expected to send up to 1.9 million and 1.55 million tourists, respectively, each year to Indonesia until 2014," Indonesian Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Marie Pangestu said.

"If the targets to attract tourists from Singapore and Malaysia at that number are accomplished, they will contribute 19-20 percent and 15-16 percent (respectively) to total foreign tourists visiting Indonesia from now on until 2014," the minister said on Thursday.

"Due to closeness in culture and language with Indonesians, Singaporean and Malaysian tourists in Indonesia preferred to explore more cultural attractions and the beauty of the Indonesian natural landscape. Indonesia is only one hour flight from their airports," she said.

The ministry had initially set a target of 8 million foreign tourists in 2012.

"We would increase the target to 9 million next year and 10 million in 2014," the minister said.

The foreign tourist visit record attained in 2011 was 8.5 percent higher than in the previous year. They spent a total of 8. 5 billion U.S. dollars and stayed for an average of eight days in Indonesia throughout that year, the minister said.

Apart from Singapore and Malaysia, the ministry is also aiming at tourists from Australia, China and Japan. These countries have shown significant contribution to Indonesia's foreign tourist records in the last few years.

For this year, the minister said it targeted up to 1.3 million tourists coming from Australia. Chinese and Japanese tourists are expected to reach 1.1 million and 560,000 respectively.

(You need to login first to read complete news).
New User? Register for FREE!
» Back to Travel News