The government aims to welcome 15 million foreign tourists in 2017. It raked up 7.81 million visitors from January to July, a 23.53 percent increase from that of the same period in 2016, according to Central Statistics Agency (BPS) data.

Travel booking firm Dwidayatour commercial vice president Hendriyapto confirmed stronger growth in the inbound tourism segment this year compared to outbound tourism, owing to the government’s efforts to promote the country and build infrastructure.

“Now, our inbound and outbound tourists have a more balanced [ratio]. Last year it was more like 55 percent [for outbound] to 45 percent,” he said recently, adding that most inbound tourists using the firm’s services were mostly from China, European countries, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The government has pinned a target to welcome 2.1 million Chinese tourists, the highest of all countries. They have dominated foreign tourist arrivals over the last two years with increased direct flights and charter flights between Chinese and Indonesian cities such as Jakarta and Denpasar.

Beach-clad cities such as Denpasar, Bali, and Manado, North Sulawesi, have continued to charm Chinese visitors, according to Hendriyapto, while foreign tourists mostly go to well-known places such as Bali and Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, with limited interest in emerging destinations such as Lake Toba in North Sumatra.

Amid the situation, Dwidayatour is optimistic about serving more foreign tourists this year, aiming for 30 percent growth from the segment.

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