Tourist arrivals in Batam up

Batam (ANTARA News) - Over 2,500 foreign tourists visited Batam city in the first quarter of 2011, up 4.03 percent from a year earlier.

The increase was the result of improving global economy and stable domestic security conditions, Head of the Batam City Tourism and Culture Office Yusfa Hendri said here on Thursday.

"When the economic crisis engulfed (many parts of the world) the number of tourist arrivals fell. But now it increases again as the global economy is improving," he said.

Singapore remained on top as the source country of foreign tourist arrivals in Batam in the January-March 2011 period, contributing 57.87 percent of the overall number.

Malaysia occupied a distant second position with 13 percent and South Korea in third position with 5 percent.

The other source countries of foreign tourist arrivals in Batam in the first three months of 2011 were India, the Philippines, Japan, China, Britain, the United States and Australia.

To attract as many tourists as possible, he said the Batam city administration planned to hold such events as Batam Great Sale (BGS) in the middle of this year, and Sea Eagle Boat later this year.

He said BGS was expected to attract both foreign and domestic tourists now that Batam was known as a shopping city.

"The BGS will offer various discounts for certain goods," he said.

The discounts would also be offered at amusement centers, spas, golf courts, food stalls and hotels, he said.