Riau Islands' Decline in Foreign Tourist Visits Affects Hotel Occupancy Rate, BPS Reports

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Foreign tourist visits to Riau Islands have slowed down by around 24 percent in April 2024 compared to the previous month, according to the head of Statistics Indonesia or BPS for Riau Islands Darwis Sitorus on Monday. According to BPS records, the region saw 102,894 foreign visits throughout April. 

Darwis explained that foreign tourist visits to the region also declined by 12.40 percent compared to April 2023. This situation has affected the occupancy rate of star hotels in the Riau Islands.

"The average hotel occupancy rate was 51.63 percent in April 2024 or down 3.22 points compared to March 2024 at 54.85 percent," said Darwis in an official statement from the Riau Islands Provincial Government.

Foreign tourist visits target for Riau Islands

The government previously targeted 3 million foreign tourist visits to the Riau Islands in 2024. Unfortunately, achieving this target would be difficult for several reasons, including the high price of Batam-Singapore ferry tickets and vice versa.

The central government's failure to set a 7-day VoA tariff is also the cause of the decline in tourist visits. The US$10 fare is necessary to achieve foreign visit target in Riau Islands by the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno.

“The Minister (Sandiaga Uno) is willing to revise the target if the 7-day VoA is not granted by the second semester of 2024," said the Head of the Riau Islands Province Tourism and Culture Service, Guntur Sakti, on Thursday, May 16, 2024.

The number of foreign tourists visiting the Riau Islands from January to March 2024 was approximately 377,000 visits. "Which means only 10 percent of the 3 million target set by Minister Sandiaga Uno have been reached," said Guntur.

YOGI EKA SAHPUTRA

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