Number Of Tourist Boats Visiting Indonesia Growing

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)