Visits Of Foreign Tourists Drop 75 Percent In 2020, BPS: On Average, Those Who Come Are Only For Business

JAKARTA - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that the number of foreign tourist arrivals (tourists) throughout 2020 was only 4.02 million visits. When compared with the visits of foreign tourists in the previous year, namely 16.11 million visits, this number fell by 75.03 percent year on year (yoy).

Head of BPS Suhariyanto said that the drop in the number of foreign tourist visits was inseparable from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the tourism sector and of course also on its supporting sectors.

"So in our opinion, it seems that the tourism sector will still face tough challenges as long as the pandemic is not yet under control. That's why we will rely on domestic tourists," he said in a virtual press conference, Monday, February 1.

According to Suhariyanto, the achievement of the number of foreign tourist visits in 2020 is also inseparable from the number of foreign tourist visits in December. Based on BPS data, the number of foreign tourists visiting in December was 164,088 visits.

However, said Suhariyanto, when compared to the visit in November 2020, there was an increase of 13.58 percent on a monthly basis or month on month (mom). When compared with December 2019, there was a very steep decline, namely 88.08 percent.

"The decline is not only in Indonesia, but also in various countries because many countries which are the main markets for Indonesian tourists still impose restrictions on traveling abroad. Several countries that also experienced a second wave have returned to lockdown," he explained.

Suhariyanto also said that foreign tourists who came in December were not for tourism purposes. But it is more on business matters, doing assignments, and there are even working visits from international institutions.