Indonesia is set to overtake New Zealand as Australia's favourite overseas destination, with more than a million tourists scheduled to visit the country by the end of the year.Ten years ago, New Zealand attracted almost three times the number of Australians to its shores than Indonesia. But, with Bali as its major drawcard, Indonesia now appears certain to reach the one million milestone for the first time in a calendar year – and topple New Zealand as Australia's No.1 outbound destination as early as next year.
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News of the major tourism growth has coincided with confirmation, from the Indonesian Government, that it will scrap its US$35 visa entry fee for Australian nationals from January 1 next year.
Oni Yulifan, from Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism, said when he joined the ministry in 1994, he would have considered it "impossible" that a million Australians could ever visit his nation in a single year.
"There was limited vision and infrastructure then. Today, that has all changed," he told The Sun-Herald. "Our uniqueness and culture are major attractions. There is also greater accessibility and value for money than ever before."
Australia and Indonesia may have clashed politically during the past 18 months over border policies, asylum seekers and a high-profile espionage scandal – but none of those issues appear to have had an impact on Australian holidaymakers. According to Indonesian immigration figures, more than 704,572 Australians had touched down in the country between the start of 2014 and the end of August – with predictions suggesting the millionth Aussie may land in the first part of December.
That projection is backed by latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data, which tallied a record 1.013 million short-term resident departures to Indonesia in the previous financial year, compared to 1.194 million welcomed by New Zealand.
Indonesia's accelerated growth in leisure tourism can be attributed to Australia's ongoing love affair with Bali which, according to a Hotels.com index, attracted more hotel bookings in the first six months of 2014 than any other destination worldwide. It was the first time the island had topped the list since it started in 2007. It also served to demonstrate that, aside from the the 2002 terrorist bombings, the island continues to weather reputational damage caused by high crime, rising death rates among tourists – and a recent reality TV series.
On Friday, Laura Robertson, 35, was enjoying her first trip to Bali with partner Joel Walsh and their one-year-old daughter, Taylor. Speaking from the Seminyak-based Villa Jasmin, which they have rented for a week, she said: "Bali is everything I had imagined and more. It's beautiful. There's almost too much to do. I would definitely come back."
Accompanying Mrs Robertson's family on the trip are fellow Melbourne family Katie and Ben Brooks and their three-year-old son, Riley.
Mrs Brooks, 35, who is on her ninth trip to the island, said: "It's the people, hospitality, culture, weather, food and value for money that keeps bringing me back. The last couple of times, we've swapped hotel accommodation for a luxury rented villa. With small children, it's been absolutely ideal."
