by Mulyanda Djohan
JAKARTA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Having recorded a peak number of Chinese tourists before the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia is optimistic about reaching that figure again soon, as the upward trend of Chinese tourist arrivals continues.
With strong bilateral relations and increasing cooperation in various fields, both countries support greater mobility for their citizens.
In the tourism sector, authorities in China and Indonesia have actively collaborated through exhibitions, promotions, and other initiatives to boost tourism and encourage travel between the two nations.
Indonesia received the highest number of Chinese tourists in 2018, with a total of 2,139,161 visitors, official data showed.
Indonesia saw a significant rebound in Chinese tourist arrivals, reaching 787,924 in 2023. The positive trend continued, with the number of Chinese visitors rising to 1,198,582 in 2024.
Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun said that Indonesia aims to welcome 2 million Chinese visitors this year, citing an increasing number of direct flights between the two countries.
Chinese tourists were interested in traveling to Indonesia, as reflected in the "Best Island Destination" award given to Indonesia by the Chinese version of travel magazine "Travel and Leisure".
"The award reaffirms Indonesia's strong appeal among Chinese travelers," said Nur Evi Rahmawati, coordinator for social and cultural information at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, recently.
Chinese tourists spend more on average than visitors from other Asian countries, so Indonesia's tourism industry has strong growth potential, tourism businesses said.■
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