Coordinator for social and cultural information at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, Nur Evi Rahmawati, received the award on behalf of the Indonesian government during a ceremony in Beijing, China, on Thursday.
"This award reflects the appeal of Indonesia's tourism among Chinese tourists," she said in a written statement issued here on Friday.
She noted that Bali remains the primary tourist magnet, drawing Chinese travelers to Indonesia.
However, she highlighted that other popular destinations, such as Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, and Mount Bromo in East Java, are increasingly attracting Chinese tourists interested in natural and cultural travel spots.
According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), a total of 1.19 million Chinese nationals traveled to Indonesia in 2024, an increase of more than 50 percent compared to the previous year.
Rahmawati expressed confidence that ongoing positive trends would help Indonesia reach its target of attracting up to two million Chinese tourists this year.
She also pointed to the steadily growing number of direct flights connecting Indonesia and China as a key factor in this growth.
Additionally, she mentioned the anticipated revival of Chinese citizens' interest in foreign tourism destinations this year, as indicated by a survey of travel operators in the country, as another encouraging sign.
“This prospect follows the reopening of China in early 2023,” she said, referring to the end of COVID-19 restrictions.
The World Leisure Awards is an international event that celebrates outstanding tourism destinations and related services, such as accommodations, flights, and food and beverage offerings.
This year, over 55 awards were presented in several categories to 20 countries, as well as to dozens of hotels, aviation services, and restaurants, for their performance in 2024.
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Translator: Desca Lidya, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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