RI To Earn $9 Billion From Tourism

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesia is expected to earn US$9.07 billion from the tourism sector this year or an increase of 6.03 percent from last year, Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu said.

"The increase is attributable mainly to higher spending by foreign tourist  per visit," Mari said in year end news conference here on Wednesday

This year, spending by foreign tourists in the country averages US$1,133.81 each per visit or an increase of 1.39 percent from US$1,118.26 last year, she said.

The spending is higher despite a decline in length of stay  from  an average of 7.84 days to  7.7 days, she said.

She noted the number of visits rose by regional tourists but a decline in the visits by tourists from crisis hit Europe.

Altogether the number of visits  grew 5 percent on-year in the first 10 months of the year or higher than  estimated global growth  of 3-4 percent. (IGT/T007)