Due to the terror attacks in Jakarta, foreign tourist arrivals have dropped 17.4 percent, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

Indonesia welcomed 814,000 international tourists in January, a decrease from 986,300 visitor arrivals in the last month of 2015, BPS head Suryamin said on Tuesday.

'€œWe think the bomb incident led to the decrease. It shows that security is vital in the hospitality industry,'€ Suryamin said.

In February, Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, which have traditionally attracted foreign holidaymakers, failed to represent an increase in tourist arrivals, he added.

Major natural disasters, such as the eruption of Mt. Bromo in East Java and Mt. Sinabung in North Sumatra also had an impact, Suryamin asserted.

Arrival numbers indicate that China topped the list with 114,000 tourists, followed by Singapore with 106,000, Australia with 92,000, Malaysia 91,000 and South Korea 38,000.

The Ngurah Rai Internatonal Airport in Bali, Soekarno-Hatta in Jakarta and Hang Nadim in Batam were the busiest arrival points. Together they welcomed almost 82 percent of arrivals.

Indonesia hopes to attract 12 million foreign tourists this year. (sha/dan)(+)

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