Indonesia’s efforts to boost international tourism are showing promising results, with 9.09 million foreign tourists visiting the country from January to August 2024. Despite this encouraging growth, the government is sounding a note of caution. Global geopolitical issues, particularly unrest in the Middle East and Korea, could disrupt the positive trend in tourist arrivals.
Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno highlighted these potential challenges during a recent address, noting that while there is no direct correlation between the primary tourist markets and the Middle East or Korea, the country must remain vigilant.
“We are closely monitoring global geopolitical tensions, especially the unrest in the Middle East. Last week, flight paths in that region experienced significant disruption. Now, there are additional concerns in North Asia, particularly in Korea, with the potential for further instability across Asia,” Sandi said.
The minister also stressed that although Indonesia’s top tourist markets—Australia, India, China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Timor-Leste—aren’t directly connected to these regions, the country must still approach the situation with caution. “We must be careful, even though our top five tourist sources aren’t tied to the Middle East,” he added.
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Statistics from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS) show that from January to August 2024, the country welcomed 9.09 million foreign visitors, a significant 20.38% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The top origins of these tourists remain consistent, with the majority coming from nearby nations like Malaysia, Australia, China, Singapore, and Timor-Leste.
However, as Indonesia pushes to reach its full potential in tourism, the government has set two distinct target goals. Senior Expert of Tourism and Creative Economy, Nia Niscaya, explained that there are both a lower and an upper target for foreign tourist arrivals. The lower target is set at 10.41 million, while the more ambitious upper target is 14.3 million.
“We initially set a lower target of 9.3 million, but we have now raised it to 10.41 million. From January to August, we have already reached 80.35% of that target. As for the upper target of 14.3 million, we have achieved 63.53%, but we still have work to do to reach it,” Nia said during The Weekly Brief with Sandi Uno on October 7, 2024.
One of the key challenges in meeting these goals is improving tourist entry points, especially in regions like Batam, Riau Islands, which still lag behind in terms of tourist arrivals. Nia also outlined the favorite international destinations for Indonesian travelers, with Malaysia leading the pack, followed by Saudi Arabia.
“Most Indonesians prefer to travel to nearby countries like Malaysia, while Saudi Arabia is primarily a destination for Umrah pilgrims. Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste are also popular. The main exit points for these travelers are through Soekarno-Hatta, Batam, Kualanamu, Juanda, and Hasanuddin airports,” Nia explained.
Despite the global geopolitical issues, Indonesia is optimistic about achieving its targets and continues to monitor the situation closely. The government’s focus on improving tourist infrastructure and services will play a critical role in ensuring that the country remains a top destination for international visitors.
