Number of Foreign Tourist Visits in East Kalimantan Increases Rapidly
East Kalimantan’s tourism sector has shown a positive trend following the COVID-19 pandemic, with various natural, cultural, and man-made tourist destinations attracting international visitors.
Key tourist attractions in East Kalimantan that have succeeded in drawing foreign tourists include Maratua Island, the Derawan Islands, and Labuhan Cermin Lake in Berau. The allure of the underwater world and the charm of white sand beaches are the main attractions of this region. In addition to natural tourism, East Kalimantan also boasts a wealth of cultural tourism. For instance, Kutai Kartanegara Regency offers a unique cultural experience through the Mulawarman Museum and the Erau Traditional Festival.
Recent data shows that the number of foreign tourist visits in 2023 has increased significantly compared to the previous year. The total number of foreign tourists throughout 2023 reached 4,491—a sharp rise compared to 343 visits in 2022. This indicates a fairly rapid recovery from the impact of the pandemic.
“Indonesia is one of the countries with a strong post-pandemic recovery. The significant increase in foreign tourists in 2023—from 343 in 2022 to 4,491—can also be attributed to the presence of the new capital city (IKN). Foreign companies are starting to regain momentum, and activities are running smoothly once again,” said the Head of the East Kalimantan Tourism Office, Ririn Sari Dewi, to the press on Wednesday, the 30th of October.
Furthermore, hotels and other accommodations that had been halted during the pandemic began to recover and rise again.
“The Room Occupancy Rate of the East Kalimantan hotels during 2023 was 60.51, which means that the average number of rooms used each night was 60.51% of the number of available rooms,” added the Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of East Kalimantan, Yusniar Juliana.
The IKN project, as well as the recently held East Borneo International Folklore Festival 2024, also enhances East Kalimantan’s appeal to international tourists. Head of the Tourism Marketing Development Division of East Kalimantan Tourism Office, Restiawan Baihaqi, remarked that word-of-mouth has been influential in encouraging more curiosity among prospective foreign tourists.
“Once they [the foreign tourists who have visited East Kalimantan] return to their country, they will tell about their experiences. Well, the reason for their visits is mostly because of that. There are first-hand stories, as well as recommendations from those who have been here,” added Baihaqi as well.
Source: indonesiaexpat.id
