The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported a significant increase in foreign tourist arrivals to Indonesia during the January-November 2024 period. A total of 12,658,048 visits were recorded, marking a 20.17% growth compared to the same period in 2023. This figure represents the highest number of tourist arrivals in the past five years.
BPS Deputy for Statistics and Services, Pudji Ismarti, shared detailed data on Indonesia’s tourism performance. In November 2024 alone, Indonesia welcomed 940,570 foreign tourists through main entry points and an additional 151,497 through border entry points.
“In total, foreign tourist arrivals in November reached 1,092,067. This represents an 8.53% decrease from the previous month but a 17.27% increase compared to November 2023,” Pudji revealed during a press conference at the BPS office in Central Jakarta on Thursday (January 2, 2025), as quoted by money.kompas.com.
Key Source Markets and Entry Points
Malaysia remained the top source of foreign tourists in November, followed by Australia and Singapore. Pudji noted a monthly decline of 10.22% in Malaysian tourist arrivals but an annual increase of 22.94%.
“Most Malaysian tourists entered Indonesia through Soekarno-Hatta Airport, alongside visitors from China. Meanwhile, Australian tourists primarily arrived via Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali. In November 2024, the average length of stay for foreign tourists was approximately 6.85 nights, close to seven days,” Pudji explained.
Domestic Tourism Decline
The Central Statistics Agency also reported a slight decline in domestic travel. In November 2024, Indonesian domestic tourists undertook 80,612,557 trips, down about 1% from October’s 81.43 million trips. Pudji attributed this to the lack of major events or festivals in November.
However, compared to November 2023, domestic travel in November 2024 increased by 33.62%. Cumulatively, domestic tourist trips reached 919,999,141 by November 2024, a 22.81% rise from the same period in 2023.
“The total domestic tourist trips as of November 2024 have significantly surpassed the total for all of 2023,” Pudji stated.
Most domestic travel occurred in Java (69.87%), with East Java being the top destination at 20.26%. Outside Java, North Sumatra emerged as the most popular destination, accounting for 4.17% of domestic trips.
2025 Target: 16 Million Foreign Tourists
Buoyed by 2024’s impressive performance, the Ministry of Tourism has set an ambitious target of 14-16 million foreign tourist arrivals for 2025.
“I am confident that we can achieve this target by the end of 2025,” said Deputy Minister of Tourism Ni Luh Puspa during a press briefing on Thursday (January 2, 2024), as quoted by travel.kompas.com.
Indonesia’s main international gateways include Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta, Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, and the Riau Islands.
The Riau Islands’ strategic location near Singapore and Malaysia makes it a crucial entry point. In 2024, the region recorded 1.3 million tourist arrivals by October, with an end-of-year projection nearing 1.7 million. Before the pandemic, the Riau Islands attracted nearly 3 million visitors in 2019, supported by visa-free and visa-on-arrival policies.
Innovation and Sustainability in Tourism
The Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of developing innovative and sustainable tourist destinations to attract more foreign visitors.
“Enhanced attractions are expected to extend tourists’ length of stay and increase their spending, contributing positively to the local economy,” she added.
Through strategic initiatives such as improving tourist attractions, easing access, and boosting international promotions, Indonesia is optimistic about achieving its 2025 targets. This approach aims not only to increase visitor numbers but also to solidify Indonesia’s position as a leading global tourism destination.
Source: Kompas.com
Image credit: Fabian Reck (pexels.com)
