Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that the Indonesian tourism industry grew by 7.2 percent last year, well above the global average of 4.4 percent.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesias tourism industry rose faster than the global average of 4.4 percent last year, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said.

Meanwhile, average tourism growth in Southeast Asia only reached 6 percent last year, the president said when opening a limited meeting at the Presidential Office here on Tuesday to discuss a plan to develop Lake Toba as one of the countrys main tourist destinations.

Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that the Indonesian tourism industry grew by 7.2 percent last year, well above the global average of 4.4 percent.

Also, the number of tourist arrivals in Indonesia last year exceeded the government-set target of 10 million.

"I have received information from the tourism minister that the number of tourist arrivals reached 10.4 million in 2015, which rose very significantly (from the previous years), with foreign exchange earnings from this sector estimated at Rp144 trillion," he said.

The Indonesian tourism industry performed better than that of neighboring Malaysia, which contracted 9.4 percent in the January-June 2015 period, and Singapore, which stagnated at zero percent from January to December last year. Meanwhile, the Thai tourism industry grew 23 percent last year.

"We need immediate breakthroughs, in terms of both regulations and jobs in the field, so we will soon be able to enjoy their fruits," he said.

The government has committed itself to develop ten tourist destinations this year to shift the focus of Indonesian tourism away from the world-renowned tourist island of Bali.

The ten destinations are Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Tanjung Kelayang in Belitung, Tanjung Lesung in Banten, Thousand Islands in Jakarta, Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Mount Bromo in East Java, Mandalika in South Lombok, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi and Morotai in North Maluku.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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