"In comparison with the 2019 target, it has increased 33.33 percent, from 150 thousand to 200 thousand," North Sulawesi Deputy Governor Steven Kandouw stated here on Wednesday.
He is optimistic of the target being realized and perhaps also exceeding it since North Sulawesi had developed more attractions lately.
Moreover, its international airport has been renovated and is operational round the clock.
The government has also been supporting chartered flights connecting Manado and Chinese cities to bring Chinese tourists to North Sulawesi, he noted.
The number of foreign tourists visiting North Sulawesi in 2015 had reached 20 thousand, doubling in 2016 to touch 40 thousand. In 2017, the figure jumped to 80 thousand, while in 2018, it rose to 124,830.
According to data from the Statistics Office of North Sulawesi Province, 118,844 foreign tourists had visited North Sulawesi during the January-November 2019 period, or a rise of 4.96 percent than the corresponding period last year.
During that period, the number of Chinese tourists was the highest, reaching 105,738 people.
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Translator: Nancy Tigauw, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati
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