BPS Calls Tourist Visits In The First Quarter Of 2024 Highest In The Last 4 Years

Foreign tourists (Photo: Antara)

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that foreign tourist visits (tourists) reached 3.03 million visits in January-March 2024. Where, this achievement is the highest visit in the last four years.

"The number of foreign tourist visits in the first quarter of 2024 is the highest in the last four years," said Acting Head of BPS Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti quoting Antara.

This achievement shows the recovery of Indonesia's tourism industry after the COVID-19 pandemic, which in January 'March 2020, Indonesia recorded 2.65 million foreign tourists visiting, and this number slumped in January' March 2021, which was 352.28 thousand foreign tourists visiting.

Amalia explained that the number of foreign tourist visits in January 'March 2024 increased by 25.43 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

In January 'March 2023, the number of visits recorded was 2,417,149 visits. This number increased to 3,031,756 visits in January' March 2024.

The increase in the number of visits in January 'March 2024 is approaching the number of foreign tourist visits to Indonesia in the same period before the pandemic, which reached 3.82 million visits in January' March 2019.

Regarding the number of foreign tourist visits in March 2024, there was a decrease of 1.91 percent when compared to February 2024, from 1.06 million visits to 1.04 million visits.

"The foreign tourist visit was 1,041,861 visits, or a decrease of 1.91 percent on a monthly basis. However, on an annual basis it increased by 19.86 percent," said Amalia.

Foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in March 2024 were dominated by foreign tourists from Malaysia (15.38 percent), Australia (11.92 percent), and Singapore (11.52 percent).

When compared to February 2024, there was a decrease in foreign tourists from Malaysia by 26.50 percent, from 218.06 thousand visits to 160.27 thousand visits.

"The decline was partly caused by the moment of Ramadan, so tourists reduced their journey," said Amalia.

Meanwhile, the number of foreign tourist visits from Australia increased significantly, at 21.24 percent, from the previous 102.40 thousand visits to 124.15 thousand visits.

The increase also occurred in the number of visits by Singaporean tourists (5.02 percent), from 114.30 thousand visits to 120.04 thousand visits.