TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The number of South Korean tourists visiting Indonesia in 2017 has increased by 45.2 percent, the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul reported on Monday.

The data released by Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) showed that 2.4 million South Koreans traveled overseas as of July, an increase of 14.5 percent compared to last year.

Read: Foreign Tourist Visit Up 21.57% in July

According to the Embassy, one of the factors that increase the number of visits to Indonesia is the rising popularity of the TV program 'Young Kitchen', aired by TvN from March to May this year. One of the episodes featured and was shot in Lombok.

According to embassy staff M. Aji Surya, TV shows are a great promotional tool for tourism because "the people of South Korea are amazed by Indonesia's beauty and uniqueness. The charm makes them want to spend their holidays in Indonesia."

Read: BPS Reports 1.14 Million Foreign Tourists Arrival in April

South Koreans will have a long holiday in October. The number of outbound tourists is expected to rise, and visits to Indonesia are likely to increase as well.

Other South Korean TV programs that featured and were recorded in Indonesia this year are 'Law of the Jungle' in Sumatera and Komodo Island (SBS), 'Battle Trip' in Bali (KBS), and 'Running Man' di Yogyakarta (SBS).

DANANG FIRMANTO | FAJAR FEBRIANTO