Tourist Visits To Wakatobi Lampaui Target Reaches 10,041 People

Tourists during a visit to Wakatobi Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, in the context of organizing SeaBRnet. (ANTARA/La Ode Muh Deden Saputra)

The number of tourist visits, both foreign and archipelago, to Wakatobi in 2023 was recorded at 10,041 people. This data was stated by the Wakatobi Regency Tourism Office (Dispar), Southeast Sulawesi.

Head of Marketing Division (Head) of Dispar Wakatobi Arif Rahman Syah when met in Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, Saturday, said the number of visits had exceeded the target of 7,500 visits.

"Our target in 2023 is 2,500 foreign tourist visits and 5,000 Nusantara tourist visits," he said, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, May 4.

Meanwhile, for 2023, said Arif, his party recorded a total of 8,118 Nusantara tourist visits and 1,923 foreign visits or a total of 10,041 people.

"For 2022, our visit reached 11,338 people, 10,528 Nusantara tourist visits and 810 foreign tourist visits," he said.

Based on the achievements in 2023, he continued, Dispar Wakatobi targets the number of tourist visits by 2024 to reach 17,000 visits, consisting of 12,000 Nusantara tourist visits and 5,000 foreign tourists.

Arif revealed that in January 2024, the number of tourist visits to Wakatobi was 150 people, then in February there were 388, March 1.32, and in April 2024 there were 181 tourist visits.

"The total in 2024 is 1,751 visits," he said.

He explained that one of the obstacles experienced by tourist visits to Wakatobi Regency was due to the lack of flight access in the area.

However, the local government is currently collaborating with the airline to reopen flight services in Wakatobi Regency.

"Hopefully, with the return of flights in Wakatobi, it can again boost the number of tourist visits in Wakatobi Regency," explained Arif.