REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -- The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali records numbers of tourist arrivals in the first quarter 2015 increased by 13.75 percent, from 831,625 the first quarter of 2014 to 946,011 this year.
Head of BPS Bali, Panusunan Siregar said Australian tourists still dominates the most visits.
"The impact of the execution to the number of foreigners in Indonesia, especially Australia, is invisible. This is because the Australian tourists still consider Bali as the best tourist destination and the nearest compare to the other countries," said Panusunan in Denpasar, Tuesday, May 5.
The foreign tourists from the Kangaroos country contribute to 25.06 percent during the first quarter of 2015, 20.31 percent followed by China, Japan 6.26 percent, Malaysia 4.76 percent, and South Korea 4.16 percent. Country of foreign tourists visiting Bali also increasingly varied.
Panusunan added, tourists from India experienced the largest increase throughout the first quarter of this year, which is 39.74 percent and this happened for the first time. Tourists from Singapore decline by 17.17 percent.
Ngurah Rai International Airport is still the main door of the arrival of foreign tourists to Bali. Five countries that are the main objectives flight departure for international air transport in March 2015 are Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and China.
Of the five countries, three countries recorded a decline, namely China, Hong Kong and Malaysia respectively by 47.78 percent, 13.81 percent, and 0.31 percent compared to the previous month. Two other countries, namely Australia and Singapore have increased respectively by 6.37 percent and 6.35 percent.
Travel Agents in Australia stated there was not decline in the number of tourists Australia to Indonesia, despite calls for a boycott after execution of two death row Bali Nine members, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. In fact, Australia is also withdrawing its ambassador to respond to the decision of Indonesia.
"At the moment we do not seena decline in demand (to Indonesia)," said Qantas Airways chief executive, Alan Joyce, quoted by the BBC.
The other tour operators in Australia, Webjet said demand flights to Bali actually increased by 42 percent over the past four weeks compared to the same period of the previous year.
Spokesman of Flight Center Travel Group, Haydn Long added, Bali has long been the three most popular destinations for tourists Australia. He noted no customer change their holiday plans to Bali, especially those who have to book tickets in advance.
"Overall, I think Bali will continue to be a popular choice for Australian tourist. Still, of course, still there are some people who might consider seeking an alternative look at the climate between the two countries at this time," Long said.
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