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Interesting Quora answer.
Why is Indonesia attracting fewer foreign tourists than other the Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines?
Nazafarin Yusuf, studied at University of Technology, Malaysia
Answered 9h ago
My dear, you need to get your fact straight!
OP and others are commenting about Indonesia being the least attractive for foreigner tourists in the region, but let me give you some real data.
As what the picture tells, Indonesia’s tourist arrival was smaller than those in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore but larger than Philippines., like twice as many tourists than the Philippines received last year.
As a matter of fact, tourism in Indonesia has more than doubled over the past decade that 2017 saw over fourteen million tourists visit the archipelago state.
Strong growth is expected for the Indonesian industry, with indirect and induced incomes predicted to reach $141.3 billion annually by 2027, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council report.
According to that tourist arrival number, those other three countries (TH, MY, SG) tourism industries appeared to be way larger than Indonesia. But is this assumption correct? Let’s look at another fact.
These statistics come from The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 by the World Economic Forum which is showing hows the overall size of each tourism industry by country.
As what the picture tells, the revenues from tourism amongst those countries:
As for Malaysia, the figure of its tourist arrival came out so big because Singaporeans and Bruneians cross border to Johor and Sarawak in Borneo just for daily needs shopping and weekend vacation... But in spending, they are less than others.
Malaysia has less to offer for tourists. Unlike Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, it has many islands it can offer. And in order to go to these islands, you need to travel by air, ship, land, and you need to spend money cheap or not to stay in hotels. Most developed countries spends more in beaches, than staying in Cities. Buildings are common for them that's why they prefer to spend money in beaches. It's not being cheap, it's about how much they can offer. Tourists are willing to spend more as long they enjoy their stay.. Same for the Philippines, despite being the least peaceful country in Asean, tourists are willing to spend more in the Philippines than in Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore.
Like for example, Malaysia earns $13B/26M tourists: tourists only spends an average of $500.
Meanwhile Indonesia earns $28.2B/14M tourists: tourists spends an average of $2,014
Indonesia is also cheap for tourists, it's just we have lots to offer, tourists visit Bali, Lombok, Batam, , Yogyakarta, Bandung, Raja Ampat, Komodo island, etc. that's why we earn more.
The ministry of Tourism also notes that Westerners spend at least 50 to 60% more per visitor, mainly because they stay longer in Indonesia, typically stay two weeks or longer. Asians also have much less holiday days per year than Europeans.
So the key difference is basically that Indonesia is focusing on increasing the yield per tourists rather than the number of tourists itself.
In Malaysia, a majority of tourists are from ASEAN countries. Only a small number of tourists who come to Malaysia are Westerners.
Let’s look at another fact. These statistics come from Wikipedia:
About 12.5 mil in 2017 or almost half Malaysian tourist arrivals are… Singaporeans. (FYI, Singapore and Brunei population only 5.5 mil and 423,196 respectively and yet Malaysia claimed the number of tourists who came from both countries were 12.4 mil and 1.6 mil, ironic huh?)
A big chunk of these are those that cross the border everyday to work then return home in Johor and Sarawak at night.
One of my friends from AirAsia has clarified this statement (thanks WF!). Singaporean tourists are only counted if they spend at least ONE NIGHT in Malaysia, which Tourism Malaysia is following international guidelines on.
The low exchange rate is giving Singaporeans more disposable income, with more Singaporeans coming to Malaysia to shop for groceries, clothing or simply to holiday there. They’re mostly the middle-income group who come there to cut costs, since they pay a fraction of the price for the same stuff.
So in conclusion, except for Thailand, the rest Asean countries are not always more popular than Indonesia after all.
Why is Indonesia attracting fewer foreign tourists than other the Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines?
Nazafarin Yusuf, studied at University of Technology, Malaysia
Answered 9h ago
My dear, you need to get your fact straight!
OP and others are commenting about Indonesia being the least attractive for foreigner tourists in the region, but let me give you some real data.
As what the picture tells, Indonesia’s tourist arrival was smaller than those in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore but larger than Philippines., like twice as many tourists than the Philippines received last year.
As a matter of fact, tourism in Indonesia has more than doubled over the past decade that 2017 saw over fourteen million tourists visit the archipelago state.
Strong growth is expected for the Indonesian industry, with indirect and induced incomes predicted to reach $141.3 billion annually by 2027, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council report.
According to that tourist arrival number, those other three countries (TH, MY, SG) tourism industries appeared to be way larger than Indonesia. But is this assumption correct? Let’s look at another fact.
These statistics come from The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 by the World Economic Forum which is showing hows the overall size of each tourism industry by country.
As what the picture tells, the revenues from tourism amongst those countries:
- Thailand : $ 36.4 B
- Indonesia : $ 28.2 B
- Singapore : $ 13.9 B
- Malaysia : $ 13 B
- Philippines : $ 12.5 B
As for Malaysia, the figure of its tourist arrival came out so big because Singaporeans and Bruneians cross border to Johor and Sarawak in Borneo just for daily needs shopping and weekend vacation... But in spending, they are less than others.
Malaysia has less to offer for tourists. Unlike Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, it has many islands it can offer. And in order to go to these islands, you need to travel by air, ship, land, and you need to spend money cheap or not to stay in hotels. Most developed countries spends more in beaches, than staying in Cities. Buildings are common for them that's why they prefer to spend money in beaches. It's not being cheap, it's about how much they can offer. Tourists are willing to spend more as long they enjoy their stay.. Same for the Philippines, despite being the least peaceful country in Asean, tourists are willing to spend more in the Philippines than in Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore.
Like for example, Malaysia earns $13B/26M tourists: tourists only spends an average of $500.
Meanwhile Indonesia earns $28.2B/14M tourists: tourists spends an average of $2,014
Indonesia is also cheap for tourists, it's just we have lots to offer, tourists visit Bali, Lombok, Batam, , Yogyakarta, Bandung, Raja Ampat, Komodo island, etc. that's why we earn more.
The ministry of Tourism also notes that Westerners spend at least 50 to 60% more per visitor, mainly because they stay longer in Indonesia, typically stay two weeks or longer. Asians also have much less holiday days per year than Europeans.
So the key difference is basically that Indonesia is focusing on increasing the yield per tourists rather than the number of tourists itself.
In Malaysia, a majority of tourists are from ASEAN countries. Only a small number of tourists who come to Malaysia are Westerners.
Let’s look at another fact. These statistics come from Wikipedia:
About 12.5 mil in 2017 or almost half Malaysian tourist arrivals are… Singaporeans. (FYI, Singapore and Brunei population only 5.5 mil and 423,196 respectively and yet Malaysia claimed the number of tourists who came from both countries were 12.4 mil and 1.6 mil, ironic huh?)
A big chunk of these are those that cross the border everyday to work then return home in Johor and Sarawak at night.
One of my friends from AirAsia has clarified this statement (thanks WF!). Singaporean tourists are only counted if they spend at least ONE NIGHT in Malaysia, which Tourism Malaysia is following international guidelines on.
The low exchange rate is giving Singaporeans more disposable income, with more Singaporeans coming to Malaysia to shop for groceries, clothing or simply to holiday there. They’re mostly the middle-income group who come there to cut costs, since they pay a fraction of the price for the same stuff.
So in conclusion, except for Thailand, the rest Asean countries are not always more popular than Indonesia after all.
