Indonesia hopes to attract 7.2 million foreign tourists by 2023

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy expects 7.2 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2023, as more borders open for each country. The target of 7.2 million foreign tourists has not demonstrated the normal conditions of Indonesian tourism as before the pandemic, when the number of foreign tourists reached 16 million, due to the global recession in 2023, which hit the world, particularly in Europe and America. Sandiaga Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, explained that foreign tourist visits would return to normal in 2025 if the global economic trend improved and there were no more recessions or pandemics that limited the movement of foreign tourists.

At the Tourism Outlook 2023 conference last weekend at the Bali International Tourism and Business Institute (IPB), Sandi said: "The number of foreign tourists will double in 2023 compared to 2022, but tourism will be constrained by the global recession, so foreign tourist visits will not reach 16 million."

Bali will focus on attracting premium tourists or wealthy tourists from Asia, Europe, and America, which have been less affected by the global recession. Previously, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Suryawijaya, Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali, explained that Bali's magnetism is still strong in the premium segment, so the global recession will have little effect on Bali.

The availability of a second home visa will also assist Bali in attracting tourists to live in Bali on a long-term basis. Especially from digital nomads who can work from anywhere in the world. In 2023, it is still unusual for foreign tourists to visit; major tourist destinations in Indonesia, such as Bali, continue to rely on domestic tourists (Wisnu), whose movements are expected to outnumber foreign tourists. During the pandemic, the Provincial Government of Bali recorded 4.3 million foreign tourist visits to Bali, and it is expected that more than 7 million foreign tourists will visit in 2022. Meanwhile, foreign tourist visits totaled 1.8 million until November 2022.

Cok Ace, who is also the Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali, explained that the movement of domestic tourists to Bali is quite good, especially when many events are held, such as music festivals and other MICE activities.