Indonesian foreign tourist arrival up in July
The number of foreign tourist arrival in Indonesia in July increased by 16.31 percent to 423,500 people, compared with the same period last year, the National Statistic Bureau said on Monday.
The number of the tourist coming to Bali Island, the center of Indonesian tourist industry, increased to 171,700 people in July, up 33.49 percent compared with the same month last year, said the head of the bureau, Rusman Heriawan.
The travel ban from the European Union not to allow Indonesian airlines to enter its territory at the beginning of the month did not affect the industry.
“From our record in July, the number of foreign tourist arrivals from European countries did not decrease, but it increased compared with previous month,” said Heriawan at a press conference.
The European Union issued the ban as it considered that Indonesian airlines lack safety standard, following the string of air accidence since the beginning of this year.
The ban has been lifted.
The spread of the avian influenza virus to Bali Island, that killed two people, did not affect the industry, either, Indonesian Tourism Minister Jero Wacik has said.
“So far, there is no need to worry. The tourists keep coming,” said Wacik.
Indonesia targets 6 millions foreign tourist arrivals this year.
The country’s tourist industry was hit by Asian financial crisis in 1997 and terrorism.
Source: Xinhua
Add comment September 6th, 2007