TEMPO.CO, Bandung-The Central Statistic Agency (BPS) has published the figure of foreign tourist arrivals to West Java in March 2016 which have doubled compared to the previous month. “We have noticed that foreign tourist arrivals through Husein Sastranegara Airport and Muara Jati Port, Cirebon, have increased by 87.96 percent,” said the Head of BPS West Java Bachdi Ruswana in his office in Bandung, Monday, May 2, 2016.

Husein airport has seen the arrivals of 15,835 foreign tourits in March 2016, rose by 88.47 percent compared to February 2016 of 8,402 arrivals. Whereas Muara Jati Port, Cirebon, has seen 136 arrivals, most of whom are ship crews, rose by 43.16 percent compared to February 2016 of 95 arrivals. BPS recorded that foreign tourist arrivals in the two gates in March 2016 reached 15,971 arrivals.

Head of Distribution Statistic Division of BPS West Java Dudung Supriadi said the increase in Husein Airport passengers indicates that the situation in the airport has returned to normal after the operation of expanded terminal in the airport. “It usually reached 13 thousand to 15 thousand arrivals. During the construction, it fell to 8,000 arrivals; at present, it seems to have gone back to normal,” he said in Bandung Monday, April 2, 2016.

AHMAD FIKRI