Foreign Tourist Visits To W Sumatra Down 16.55 Percent

Padang, (Antara Sumbar) - Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) of West Sumatra, noted that foreign tourist arrivals to the province in September 2017 reached 4,347 people or down 16.55 percent compared to August 2017 which reached 5,209 people.

"Of the 4,347 foreign tourists, tourists from Malaysia still dominate the visit to West Sumatra reached 3,186 people," Head of West Sumatra BPS, Sukardi stated in Padang, Friday.

Then in September 2017, there were 345 Australian tourists, China (26), Singapore (24), Japan (21), India (20), Thailand (19), Netherlands (16), United States (15) and other 647 people.

Tourist arrivals in September 2017 contributed 0.40 percent of the total number of foreign tourists who are visiting Indonesia as many as 1,080,339 people.

He ensures that the recorded numbers are those who enter through immigration at Minangkabau International Airport, if previously from Jakarta or Medan it will be recorded through arrival airport.

On the other hand, he sees Middle Eastern tourists also potential to be targeted to visit West Sumatra on condition that authorized stakeholders have to intensively promote tourism object.

Meanwhile, West Sumatra Provincial Government prepares promotion to attract tourists from Singapore related to the plan of opening of Singapore-Padang flight route by Air Asia airline in February 2018.

"Promotion must be accurate, according to the character and the desire of tourists in Singapore," Deputy Governor of West Sumatra, Nasrul Abit told.

Without the promotion of tourists in Singapore, they will not know there is direct flights to Padang.

Meanwhile, Head of West Sumatra Transportation Agency, Amran added all administrative affairs to open Singapore-Padang flight by Air Asia have been completed in the Ministry of Transportation. (cha)

Editor: Vicha Faradika