Domestic tourists spend Rp76.16 trillion in the first semester

The total spending by domestic tourists in the first semester this year reached Rp76.16 trillion.

"Until the first semester, this year, a total of 107 million domestic tourists have travelled across the country spending up to Rp76.16 trillion," Tourism Minister Mari Elka Pangestu stated here on Monday.

She remarked that with this achievement, she was optimistic that the target of 255 million tourists will be reached by the end of this year in view of several national and international events to be held in various regions this year.

"To further increase the number of domestic tourists, direct promotion needs to be carried out in main markets along with increasing cooperation with airline companies," she asserted. 

She pointed out that tourism and creative economy have become one of the sources of national economic growth.

The rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of the tourism sector until mid-2014 reached 6.86 percent or was higher than the national growth rate of 5.17 percent.

In all, contribution of tourism to the GDP based on the current price in the first semester has reached Rp136.76 trillion.

"Most of it came from restaurants reaching Rp104.06 trillion, hotels Rp19.51 trillion, and the recreational sector Rp13.18 trillion," she stated.

She noted that creative economy grew 5.12 percent, which was almost equal to the national growth in the first semester.

The value added by the sector in the period was estimated to reach Rp111.2 trillion with fashion, culinary, handicrafts, publication, and printing being the largest contributors.
"The four sub-sectors are closely linked with tourism, and thus, the growth in the tourism sector will boost growth in the creative economic sector and the other way round. The synergy between the two sectors can be a reliable source of national economic growth," she added. (Antara)