Foreign Tourists Visit to Jakarta Decreased

There are three entrance gates for foreign tourists to come in to Jakarta, namely Soekarno-Hatta airport, Tanjung Priok port, and Halim Perdanakusumah airport. From these entrance gates, it is noted that the total of foreign tourist entered Jakarta during August 2011 was decreased.

During that period, there were 147,999 visits or 28.11 percent lower compared to visit in July which reached 205,861 visits. In fact, if compared with visit in the same period last year, the total of foreigners visit in August 2011 was also lower by 0.15 percent.

“It occurred because Moslems around the world were fasting in August. That is why foreigners, especially from middle east countries, reduced their visit to Jakarta,” expressed Head of Jakarta Central Statistics Board (BPS), Agus Suherman, Wednesday (10/5).

The biggest drop occurred in visit of tourists from Saudi Arabia, who usually always in the top ten of foreigners visit to Jakarta but in August did not include in the list. Besides Saudi Arabia, foreigners visit from Malaysia was also decreased.

“Malaysia is an Islamic country. Usually, Malaysia is always on the top of the list as most foreign tourist visits to Jakarta. But in August, it ranks down to third position,” added Agus.

The top ten countries with most visits to Jakarta during August 2011 were Japan (16,092 visits), China (15,537 visits), Malaysia (12,868 visits), Singapore (10,822 visits), South Korea (7,003 visits), Australia (5,822 visits), Netherland (5,786 visits), United States (5,710 visits), India (4,531 visits), and Philippine (4,413 visits).

According to Agus, the decreased of foreign tourists visit to Jakarta in August is the third time along these last four years. However, it is in line with the number of foreign tourists visit to Indonesia which also decreased by 16.68 percent or from 745,451 visits in July 2011 down to 621,084 visits in August 2011.

Arie Budhiman as Head of Jakarta Tourism and Culture Department optimists foreign tourists visit to Jakarta will be increasing in October to December. “Usually, the trend of foreign tourists visit during those months increases because entering year-end holidays as well as approaching Christmas and new year’s celebrations,” he expressed.

Source - beritajakarta