Indonesia Eyeing to Attract 17 Million Foreign Tourists in 2018
1 February 2018 13:08 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said that the growth of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia increased 22 percent throughout January-November in 2017.
“[Attracting foreign tourists] in other words generates foreign exchange,” said Arief Yahya at Hotel Borobudur today.
The Tourism Ministry is eyeing to attract 17 million foreign tourists to visit Indonesia in 2018, or a 20 percent increase from 2017. Meanwhile, the ministry expects 270 million domestic tourists will travel throughout Indonesia this year.
Despite the improved numbers, he said that there are elements that need improvements. “Speed is needed in today’s competition,” said Arief. Indonesia experiences a significantly slow flow of money and people, which is directly linked to issue regarding permits.
He said that Indonesia can follow the example of Japan that improved two-folds after conducting a massive deregulation. The number of tourists entering the country went from 9 million to 20 million tourists in the span of two years.
Arief Yahya also promoted several Indonesian tourist destinations that have been prepared, such as Bromo, Tengger, Semeru, and Lake Toba.
ANDITA RAHMA
