Spending Less While on Holiday

(9/6/2004)

Representatives of the Directorate of Tourism Statistics from the National Statistics Center (BPS) are projecting a continuing decline in the average spending levels of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in 2004.

The average expenditure level for foreign tourists in 2003 averaged US$ 903.74. According to Mr. Adi Lumanksono, the head of the Sub-Directorate for Tourism Statistics at the BPS and quoted in the Indonesian-language Bisnis Indonesia, he sees a slight continuing decline in spend levels due to the strengthening of a number of major currencies against the Indonesian Rupiah; a more competitive air fare environment making a holiday in Indonesia less expensive than in the past; and a shorter length of stay for tourists visiting the country.

Since 1994 the average spend of tourists visiting Indonesia has declined 24.34% from US$ 1,194.43 to its 2003 level of US$ 903.74.

Average spending figures are tabulated via exit interviews conducted twice a year by the BPS at major gateways, during high and low seasons for tourism arrivals.