Denpasar (Antara Bali) - The tourism and creative economic ministry said the number of tourist boats visiting Indonesia has increased from year to year.
"In the past five years, the number of passengers of cabin cruisers visiting the country has increased significantly," Rizki Handayani, the ministry's director for promotion, convention, incentive and event, said.
In 2008, the number of passengers of tourist boats visiting Indonesia was recorded at 21,616 , up to 68,566 in 2009 and to 112,882 in 2011. In the first half of 2012, the number already reached 114,000 tourists.
"In 2013, we set the target for the visitors coming with tourists boats at 160,000," Rizki said here on Saturday.
He said the number of pleasure trips by cabin cruisers to the country grew from 36 in 2008 to 135 in 2009 and to 176 trips in 2011.
In 2012, the number is expected to rise to 214 trips, he said, adding, "in 2013, we hope the number would reach 300 trips."

The government, therefore, plans to continue development of supporting facilities in the ports of tourist destination areas such as Benoa, Belawan, Tanjung Perak, Semarang and Kumai, he said.(*/M038)
