Indonesia's Foreign Tourist Arrivals Surge in 2024; Bali Remains Top Gateway

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has reported a significant increase in foreign tourist visits to Indonesia during the first seven months of 2024, reaching a total of 7.75 million. This marked the highest number of foreign visitors since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pudji Ismartini, BPS Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics, highlighted the positive trend during a press conference on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. “The number of foreign tourist visits until July is the highest since 2020,” she said in a press conference monitored via the BPS Youtube channel on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

July 2024 alone saw 1.31 million foreign tourists visit Indonesia, representing a 9.42 percent month-over-month increase from June. This upward trajectory began in April and continued through July following a dip in March.

The majority of foreign visitors, totaling 1.15 million, entered Indonesia through primary entry points. Another 157.800 arrived via border crossings.

In terms of nationality, Malaysia led the way with 177.710 visitors (13.56 percent) in July 2024. Australia followed closely with 166.920 (12.73 percent), followed by China with 126.110 (9.62 percent), and Singapore with 102.320 (7.81 percent).

Pudji explained that Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali remained the most popular entry point, welcoming 625.500 tourists. Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta was the second most frequented, with 271.600 visitors. 

Other significant entry points included Batam (100.200), Juanda Airport in Surabaya (34.400), and Kualanamu (22.600). Notably, most visitors from Malaysia and China arrived through Soekarno-Hatta Airport, while the majority of Australian tourists entered via Ngurah Rai Airport.

ILONA ESTHERINA

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