19.251 Foreign Tourists Visit West Sumatra

Padang, W Sumatera, July 2 (Antara) - About 19.251 foreign tourists visited West Sumatera in the period of January to May 2013, Head of National Statistics Agency (BPS) West Sumatera office Yomin Tofri said here on Tuesday. "The number is increasing 27,26 percent compared to the same period last year at 15.127 people," he said. Tofri said the tourists coming to West Sumatera are those from Malaysia, Australia, France, China, Singapore, United Kingdom, Philipines, Japan and The United States. Malaysia is the biggest source of tourist arrivals in West Sumatera at 14.170 people. "The fewest number of tourists coming from Philippines with 50 people," he added. The tourism destinantion in Padang is such as Bukittinggi, Padangpanjang, Sawahlunto, Sijunjung District, Agam, Tanah Datar, Mentawai, and Solok Selatan. "Beside traveling, tourists also like shopping in Bukittinggi and surfing in Mentawai," he said. Tofri said the office only calculated the foreigners who came to West Sumatera through Minangkabau International Airport without transit in other cities. Meanwhile, the number of foreigners traveling to West Sumatera reached 4.490 people in May. The number has increased 39,83 persen compared to April at 3.211 people. "The number contributed 0.64 percent for the total foreign tourist visiting Indonesia which is reached 700.708 people," Tofri said.