Further increases in tourist numbers to Bali

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said 224,695 foreign tourists visited Bali via Ngurah Rai International Airport in June, a 12.68 percent increase from the 199,400 in May and a 12.07 percent increase from the 200,503 people in the same period last year.

In the first six months, 1.17 million foreign tourists arrived in Bali through Ngurah Rai, a 9.52 percent increase from the 1.07 million in the same period last year.

"Bali remains the top draw among Indonesian tourist destinations," BPS head Rusman Heriawan told a press conference last week.

The BPS said a total of 613,422 foreign tourists visited Indonesia in June, an 11.41 percent increase from 550,600 people in the same period last year.

There were 3.38 million foreign tourists to the country in the first half of the year, a 14 percent increase from the 2.97 million in the same period last year.

"*The increase is* quite significant. I hope we can have higher tourist numbers in the coming months," Rusman said.

He said foreign tourist arrivals in June were 2.23 percent higher than the previous month because of seasonal factors. "We entered peak tourist season in June," he said.

Apart from the significant increase in overseas passengers at Ngurah Rai, Bali also ranked first in the length of foreign visitors' stay.