In August 2015, a total of 850,542 foreigners visited Indonesia, up 2.87 percent from the same month last year. According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Egyptian tourists grew by a remarkable 25.5 percent (y/y), while the number of Chinese visitors grew 25.0 percent, and Singaporean visitor growth rose 23.3 percent.

Considering the period January-August 2015, the highest growth in foreign tourist arrivals originated from China (20.7 percent), followed by Egypt (12.2 percent), Britain (10.2 percent), India (10.2 percent), and the United States (2.5 percent).

However, foreign tourist arrival growth in Indonesia in the first eight months of 2015 was slightly below the global and regional trend. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, global tourism grew four percent in the January-August 2015 period, while tourism growth in the Asia Pacific region recorded a four percent increase and three percent in Southeast Asia.

Despite containing plenty of beautiful natural scenery, historic places and cultural centers, Indonesia still lags behind its neighboring countries in terms of tourist arrivals. Whereas Malaysia and Singapore manage to attract around 27 million and 15 million foreign tourists per year, respectively, Indonesia only welcomed 9.4 million foreigners in 2014.

In 2015 Indonesia targets to attract 10 million foreign tourists. Given that 6.3 million foreigners visited Indonesia in the January-August 2015 period, the country may just fall short of achieving the target. Next year the government targets to welcome 12 million foreign visitor arrivals and by 2019 the government wants to see an annual 20 million foreigners to visit Indonesia. In order to achieve these targets, the Indonesian government waived visa requirements for an additional 45 countries per 10 June 2015. Hence a total of 90 countries are currently eligible to visit Indonesia for a maximum period of 30 days without visa requirements.

Between 13 and 16 October Jakarta is to host the annual Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) in the Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel.

Indonesia is currently promoting Indonesia as a tourist destination through an exhibition of photos and videos (the "Wonderful Indonesia" campaign) in terminal three of Singapore's Changi Airport (the event runs through 11 October 2015). This airport, one of the world's busiest hubs and the world's best airport according to Skytrax, serves about 135,000 daily air passengers.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals in Indonesia, 2013-2015:

Month  Tourist Arrivals
         2013
 Tourist Arrivals
         2014
 Tourist Arrivals
         2015
January        614,328        753,079        723,039
February        678,415        702,666        786,653
March        725,316        765,607        789,596
April        646,117        726,332        749,882
May        700,708        752,363        793,499
June        789,594        851,475        815,148
July        717,784        777,210        814,233
August        771,009        826,821        850,542
September        770,878        791,296
October        719,900        808,767
November        807,422        764,461
December        766,966        915,334
Total       8,802,129       9,435,411       6,322,592

Source: Statistics Indonesia (BPS)

Foreign Tourist Arrivals in Indonesia, 2007-2015:

    2007   2008   2009   2010   2011   2012   2013   2014  2015
Foreign Tourists
(in millions)
  5.51   6.23   6.32   7.00   7.65   8.04   8.80   9.44  10.0¹

¹ indicates government target
Source: Statistics Indonesia (BPS)


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