Indonesia's tourism booming due to economic downturn

It's almost paradoxical that a market survey on Indonesian tourism reveals that international visitors to the 'Archipelago' are growing quite rapidly due to... economic downturn.

The survey results show that a whopping 48% of respondents stated they chose Indonesia because the Southeast Asian country offers them value for their money, and 41% felt that the costs of visiting Indonesia were within their budget. Meanwhile, only 36% of international guests said they enjoyed the weather in Indonesia despite the fact that the 'Archipelago' nation lies in a tropical region with year-round sunshine and stunning beaches like the tourist haven Bali.

Affordable costs are the main reason attracting visitors to Indonesia as per the survey results, where international tourists spend an average of $1,634 per visit to Indonesia, equal to half the global average of $2,930 for tourism. In this total expenditure, foreign visitors allocate 30% for shopping, 25% for dining, 11% for entertainment activities, 7% for transportation, 4% for domestic flight usage, and the remainder for various other purposes.

But it's not by chance that Indonesia can attract visitors during today's economic crisis. To enhance service quality and attract tourists amidst the economic situation in the US and European countries, the main tourism markets currently facing difficulties due to financial and debt crises, Indonesia shifted its focus in 2013 to its 5 main tourism markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, China, and Japan.

In addition to Malaysia and Singapore being the two largest markets for Indonesia's tourism industry due to their close geographical and cultural proximity, Australia, China, and Japan are all very important tourism markets with great potential, especially China which is entering a tourism boom. The Secretary of the Directorate General of Tourism Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia, Gusti Ngurah Putra, stated that the Ministry directed the Bali Tourism Office and other tourist destinations in Indonesia to focus on these 5 major markets, increase promotion, foreign tourism promotion, and promote new forms of tourism such as eco-tourism and village tourism.

CEO of PT Visa Worldwide Indonesia, Ellyana Fuad, advises the Indonesian tourism sector to capitalize on the depreciating rupiah to enhance foreign tourist attraction. Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia, Mari Elka Pangestu, remains optimistic, citing survey results indicating Indonesia's tourism potential amidst economic uncertainties. The goal is to increase tourist numbers from 8.04 million in 2012 to 8.60 million in 2013, aiming for a revenue of $10 billion.

Source: Mytour Travel Guide – By An Ninh Thủ Đô