Bali remains the shining star of Indonesia tourism and should surpass the three million tourists mark this year.
DENPASAR- Nothing seems to stop the irresistible growth in arrivals on Bali Island. Indonesia’s most popular destination continued its growth over the first five months of 2012, reaching a new record of 1.13 million tourists, up by 9.71% over the same five months in 2011. If the current growth rate is maintained, Bali is likely to finish the year with over three million foreign visitors, an absolute record in the island’s tourism history. The whole Indonesia received during the first five months, 3.18 million foreign visitors, representing a growth of 8.81% over 2011. Bali continues to represent over 35% of all arrivals, far ahead of Jakarta which represent only 26.7% of all foreign arrivals to the Archipelago.
Growth in Bali is sustained by the Australian market, which continues to represent the largest share of travellers to the Island of the Gods. Australians are up by 9.71% for the first five months with 292,800 arrivals. According to the website Bali Discovery, Australia could reach a total of over 860,000 visitors by the end of the year. China is now becoming Bali’s second largest market representing more than twice the total number of Japanese coming to the Island. From January to May 2012, the total number of Chinese reached 143,345 visitors, an increase of almost 65% over the same period of 2011. Thanks to a plethora of flights –especially from low cost airlines- Malaysia consolidates its position as the third largest market to Bali with 69,267 arrivals, up by 3.6%. Japan is however coming back after many months of decline. Total arrivals from Japan to Bali reached during the first five months 66,508, still a decline of 11.9% on a year-to-year comparison. May showed however a jump of 8% in total arrivals…
Europe is doing better than expected: UK arrivals are up by 12.5% since the beginning of the year with a total of 38,753 visitors followed closely by France with a total of 38,437 arrivals, slightly down by 0.2% over 2011. German arrivals grew also in double-digit since the beginning of the year with 29,670 visitors, up by 10.83%. The US market moved also in positive field with total arrivals from January to May showing a strong growth of 11.41% at 34,879 visitors. Regional arrivals represent however 71.7 % of all arrivals.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
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