Despite the global economic slowdown, the Province of Jakarta is optimistic that the capital city will be able to reach a growth of between 8% – 10% in international tourist arrivals and an increase of 17% – 20% in domestic visitors this year, said Arie Budiman, Head of the Tourist and Culture Office of Jakarta.
In the past 5 years, tourism to Jakarta grew by a yearly average of 8.05%, while domestic tourists grew at a yearly average of 16.77%. Last year 2012, Jakarta welcomed 2.12 million international visitors and 28.1 million domestic tourists.
Tourism contributes Rp 2.6 trillion to Jakarta’s provincial GDP, however, receives only an approximate 3% of this amount for tourism promotion. Nonetheless, Arie Budiman is convinced that increased arrivals from Asia and the Middle East as well as more domestic tourists will continue to be drawn to Jakarta which offers more shopping facilities and more events and concerts with international stars, reports Kompas daily.
On the program for development in Jakarta is an amphitheater by the Rio Ria dam, improvements to the Setu Babakan village of Jakarta’s indigenous Betawi ethnic group, and better organized regular city tours.
Meanwhile to improve the old city of Batavia, a Destination Management Organization for Old Batavia (or DMO Kota Tua) has been established with active participation from stakeholders, so that, among others, cleanliness and orderliness of the Fatahillah Square and surroundings have been greatly improved, with vendors more neatly organized.
Statistics issued by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy showed that in the first Semester of 2013, Jakarta received 1,081,536 international visitors, up 8.8% compared to the previous year when the capital received 993,898 tourists.
Highest number of visitors to Jakarta came from Malaysia, followed by China, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, USA and Australia.
While foreign tourist arrivals through all entry ports in Indonesia from January through June 2013, totaled 4,154,478 visitors, a growth of 7.18% compared to the same period in 2012.
