Foreign Tourist Visits In March Decreased 45.5 Percent Compared To February

Illustrated. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported that the number of foreign tourist arrivals (tourists) in March 2020 experienced a sharp decline, which is the impact of several policies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In March 2020, the number of foreign tourists dropped drastically. And now the number is only 470,900 foreign tourists. If we trace historical data, the number of foreign tourists is almost the same as in 2007," said Head of BPS Suhariyanto through a virtual press conference in Jakarta, Monday, May 4.

Suhariyanto conveyed that the number of foreign tourist visits in March 2020 had decreased by 45.5 percent compared to February 2020. This figure also decreased by 64.11 percent compared to the same period last year.

According to arrivals at the airport, Suhariyanto said that the decline in foreign tourist visits occurred at almost all main gates of airports in Indonesia, including at Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, down 64.72 percent, at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta, down 75 percent, and Medan's Kualanamu Airport. down 64.11 percent.

"And if we look at the number of foreign tourists by sea, it has also decreased. In Batam it has decreased by 75 percent, in Tanjung Uban it has decreased to 92 percent. Likewise, those who come by land such as in Atambua and Entikong," explained Suhariyanto.

Based on nationality, BPS noted that the sharpest decline occurred in foreign tourists visiting from China, namely 97.46 percent. Then from Hong Kong it fell 96 percent, and Kuwait fell 89 percent.

"Almost foreign tourists from all over this country have experienced a sharp decline. And this can be realized because there are large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), lockdowns in several countries, and flight stoppages," said Suhariyanto.