The tourist arrivals are expected to provide an equal distribution of tourism benefits in Indonesia.
"Last year, we targeted 361 thousand Chinese tourists, and we achieved 707 thousand. This year, we increase the target to 1 million-1.5 million," the ministry's Regional I Director of Tourism Marketing Wisnu Sindhutrisno said in Badung, Bali, on Saturday (January 20).
Equal distribution is expected to be achieved because the ministry has seen a new pattern of traveling among Chinese people; namely, 65 percent of them are young people with longer tourism trip lengths and favor activities related to adventure, nature, and culture.
He affirmed that in all promotional programs to China in 2024, tourism villages, homestays, and several destinations that are run by communities in villages are included.
"In Yogyakarta, for instance, (there are) chocolate making and washing buffaloes. These are what we are encouraging to be experienced by them," he added.
He noted that the new characteristics were visible with the help of the internet. It was observed that Chinese tourists prefer to visit tourist destinations that involve hiking, adventure in nature, and diving, which are not only spread in Bali but also in other Indonesian regions.
"China has four annual holiday seasons, including the Chinese New Year which is the low season of February-March, and September-October; we encourage that," he said.
According to him, the most potential direct flights to Indonesia are from Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing, followed by Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Currently, in terms of the number of foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia, especially Bali, tourists from China are still ranked fourth, below those from Australia and India.
"We will improve the promotion, but starting from this tear, the Chinese Government seems to be starting to open up and be okay about making overseas trips," he remarked.
Sindhutrisno affirmed that his side had cooperated with several big tourism industry players in China to increase tourist arrivals as well as to improve air transport connectivity.
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Translator: Ni Putu Putri, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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