Foreign tourist arrivals through all of Indonesia?s international gateways grew by 6.4% from January through July 2013 reaching 4.8 million visitors, said Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, Mari Elka Pangestu at a recent press conference. This is still above world average of 5% as noted by UNWTO.
Last year, during the first 7 months period, Indonesia received 4.57 million foreign visitors.
Slower growth was experienced in the month of July, increasing by 2.4% only, since during this month of Ramadhan fewer tourists from Islamic countries like Malaysia, the Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia travelled to Indonesia.
Nonetheless, Minister Mari Pangestu was confident that with a number of important events occurring in Indonesia in the coming months including the forthcoming APEC Summit, Indonesia will reach this year?s target of between a minimum 8.3 million, to the optimistic target of 8.9 million foreign tourist arrivals this year.
Detailed data showed that during the first 7 months period of 2013, foreign arrivals to?Jakarta?grew by 7.2%, to?Bali?by 8.1% and to?Batam?3.8%. Major markets being?Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Australia?and the?USA.
APEC Tourism and Arts Activities
Meanwhile, in preparation of the APEC Summit to take place from?7 ? 8 October, to be attended by heads of state of member countries, – among whom confirmed are from the United States, Russia and China, – ?a number of related conferences have already begun in Bali.
For APEC, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is responsible for 3 major events, namely the High Level Dialogue on Travel Facilities, the gala dinner and the launch of Sustainable Development by Indonesia?s President, and the?Tourism Ministers meetings on?5 ? 6 October.
In conjunction with APEC,? the Art Summit 2013 ?carrying the theme ?Contemporary Performing Arts and Making its Market? will be held in three cities, namely in Denpasar, Bali, Jakarta and Solo (Central Java). ?The opening ceremony and seminar will take place in Denpasar (8-9 October), performances are to be held in Jakarta (12-23 October), and a workshop and closing ceremony in Solo on?25-26 October 2013.
In Jakarta at the Taman Ismail Marzuki, the Indonesia Performing Arts Mart will take place from?13 – 16 November. The Mart carries the theme : Performing Arts Market in the Asia Century.