The Importance Of Tourism In Indonesia

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Indonesia is an immense, ethnically diverse nation with an estimate of over 300 languages and hundreds of ethnic groups spread across the country (Forshee, 2006). Not only abundant in cultural aspect, this tropical country showcases its natural wonders amid more than 1.9 million sq. km straddling the equator, from the magnificent white sandy beaches, volcanoes, to colorful marine treasures (Atkinson, 2016). Tourists often spoil their senses, as they explore the flavors of Indonesia by taking a bite of the local delicacies whilst enjoying the scenery, accompanied by traditional music (Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia, 2016). Due to its diversity in natural beauty and people, Indonesia has not ceased to attract international tourists to come. In 2013, the number of international arrivals in Indonesia reached 8.8 million (UNWTO, 2014), which has been increasing steadily to the order of 12% per annum from 2006. With 1.6 million travellers coming to Indonesia, Singapore remains the largest arrival source market, representing 18% of the international arrivals. Statistics Indonesia (2014) revealed that the average length of stay for all tourists was 7.5 days with an average expenditure of $1,042 per tourist. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WWTC) (2014) indicated that tourism in Indonesia made a direct contribution of 3.1% of GDP in 2013 (as cited in Hampton & Clifton, 2017). During their stay, people seek to consume local food because it