Number of foreign tourist arrivals surges in West Java

The number of foreign tourist arrivals in West Java has risen substantially to an average of 1,000 per day following the recent political conflict in Thailand and the opening of direct flights from Malayaisa to Bandung, a local official said.

“Since the opening of the direct flights to Bandung, the number of foreign tourist arrivals has drastically increased. The situation improved after the political conflict in Thailand,” head of the West Java Tourism and Culture Office Iing Herdiwan said as quoted by kompas.com news portal in Bandung on Thursday.

Speaking after kicking off the West Java Off-Road Adventure at the Sate building in Bandung, Iing said  at least 300 tourists who had initially planned to go to Thailand last week, for example, suddenly changed their destination to West Java.

“Travels agencies, which had signed contracts with tourists to go to Thailand, changed their travel to other destinations, including West Java,” Iing said.

Iing said the rising number of foreign tourists to West Java had been recorded since early this year. In the period between January and May, at least 50,000 foreign tourists had visited various tourist attractions in the province.

“The rapid growth of tourism in West Java has to be responded to positively,' Iing added.