A quiet resort in Bali (Photo: Nikkei) Jakarta (VNA) – The tourism sector of Indonesia hasfallen into deep difficulties due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, withlosses incurring so far amounting to around 7 billion USD.
The number of foreign visitors to Indonesia in October thisyear, though picking up 4.57 percent from the previous month, showed a decreaseof 88.25 percent from the same period last year to 158,200, according to thecountry’s statistics agency BPS.
Statisticsof the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) showed thesector shrank 11.86 percent in October year on year. About 78.5 percent of theworkforce of the hotel industry have lost their jobs.
Deputy chairman of PHRI Maulana Yusran said hotels now mainlyserve domestic travellers, noting hotels in Bali reported the lowest occupancyrate in the country in October, equivalent to only 9.53 percent of the rate inOctober 2019.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Indonesia expected towelcome 18 million foreign visitors in 2020, compared to 16.1 millioninternational arrivals in 2019.
However, in the first 10 months of this year, there were only3.72 million foreign visitors, down 72.35 percent year on year.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy PrabuRevolusi said the country aims to welcome 13-14 million foreign tourists nextyear. The goal is feasible, he said, adding that Indonesia has set up tourismcorridors with China, Singapore and the Republic of Korea, and is engaging in talkswith Japan on a similar move./.
