Indonesia Expects 54% Increase in Tourist Arrivals by 2014

Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago, expects to attract 54 percent more tourists within four years, Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said.

The Southeast Asian country, home to the resort island of Bali, aims to attract 10 million tourists in 2014, from an estimated 6.5 million this year and 7 million next year, Wacik said.

Peaceful general elections this year and last month’s killing of Noordin Mohammad Top, the alleged mastermind of fatal bombings in Bali and Jakarta, improved Indonesia’s tourism outlook. Attracting more foreign tourists may help Indonesia achieve its economic growth target of 5.5 percent next year from an estimated 4.3 percent this year.