Indonesia welcomed 1,193,867 foreign tourists in October 2024, marking a 22.01% year-on-year (YoY) increase compared to October 2023, Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported.
Acting Head of Central Statistics Agency, Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, highlighted that the rise in foreign tourist arrivals has been consistent since April 2024, although there was a slight dip in September.
Steady Growth in 2024
Cumulatively, from January to October 2024, Indonesia recorded 11.57 million foreign tourist visits, a 20.45% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This indicates a significant recovery in the tourism sector.
“The recovery of Indonesia’s tourism sector is evident from the cumulative increase in foreign tourist arrivals from January to October 2024, reaching 11.57 million visits,” Amalia stated during a press conference in Jakarta on December 2, 2024, as reported by Antara.
Top Source Countries
Malaysia continued to dominate as the largest source of foreign visitors, contributing 194,100 arrivals in October 2024, accounting for 16.3% of total visits. Despite a 17.22% month-on-month (MoM) decrease from September 2024, Malaysian tourists showed a remarkable 40.05% YoY growth, according to Bisnis.com.
Australia ranked second with 150,500 visitors (12.6%), followed by Singapore (106,300 visitors or 8.9%). China and Timor Leste came next with 95,300 and 76,600 visitors, respectively, while the United States contributed 33,500 visitors.
However, Amalia noted that total cumulative visits in 2024 remained below pre-pandemic levels. From January to October 2019, the figure was 13.45 million visits.
Entry Points and Top Regional Visitor Distribution
Foreign tourists, including border crossers, spent an average of 7.28 nights in Indonesia in October 2024.
Most tourists entered through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, with 1.04 million arrivals via air travel, accounting for 82.88% of total visits. Malaysian and Chinese tourists primarily used this airport, while Australian visitors predominantly entered via Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali.
By land and sea, 156,530 tourists crossed the borders, representing just 14.2% and 2.92% of total arrivals, respectively.
Regional Visitor Distribution
According to Medcom.id, the top four regions contributing visitors were:
- Southeast Asia (ASEAN): 391,000 arrivals
- Other Asian countries: 330,000 arrivals
- Europe: 216,000 arrivals
- Middle East: 17,000 arrivals
Positive Tourism Index Gains and Challenges
Alongside rising visitor numbers, Indonesia’s tourism quality also improved, as reflected in the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) by the World Economic Forum. The country ranked 22nd globally out of 119 countries, 6th in Asia-Pacific, and 2nd in ASEAN.
Despite the progress, Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, emphasized ongoing challenges, including destination cleanliness, infrastructure readiness, and sustainability.
“We must thoroughly prepare to ensure the safety, comfort, and smooth travel experiences for tourists, especially during the Christmas 2024 and New Year 2025 holiday season, regarded as the peak period driving significant tourist activity.,” she said, as quoted by Media Indonesia.
Widiyanti called for robust collaboration among tourism stakeholders to capitalize on upcoming opportunities.
“Strong collaboration with industry players and associations can drive the advancement of national tourism and create broader, more intensive programs,” she added.
Sources: bisnis.com, medcom.id, antaranews.com, mediaindonesia.com
Special Image: AntaraNews//FikriYusuf
