The National Bureau for Statistics informed that total international tourist arrivals through ’s 13 main gateways from January to June 2006 was down (-)7.54% compared to the same period last year.  Arrivals to Bali dropped by (-) 19.1%, direct arrivals to Lombok declined by (-) 13.58%; To Tanjung Pinang down by (-) 12.31%, and to Batam down by (-) 9.07%. 

On the other hand, arrivals to Jakarta improved by 6.31%, to Padang’s Minangkabau Airport by 60.65%; arrivals to Manado improved by 18.65%; and through Solo’s Adisumarmo Airport increased threefold, although from a low base. 

Nevertheless, largest share of arrivals is still held by Bali with 30.83%; followed by Jakarta at 29.82%; and Batam at 26.55%. Share of other gateways are below 3% respectively.   

The Statistics Bureau said that foreign tourist arrivals fell to 1.89 million in the January-June period this year from 1,049,487 in the first half of last year.  

Tourism accounts for about 5% of 's gross domestic product.  It is one of the country's largest sources of foreign exchange revenues, contributing $4.5 billion in 2005 from an estimated 4 million foreign tourists in the year, Reuters reported. 

Indonesia's tourism industry has been battered by a series of natural disasters this year such including the earthquake in the major tourist destination of Yogyakarta followed by an earthquake and tsunami in the West Java beach resort of Pangandaran. 

Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific announced that since July the airline has increased its flights from Hong Kong to Bali , from seven times to 11 times weekly, anticipating increasing demand, especially from Europe , in particular from the , from and to holiday in Bali . Flying A-330 and B-777 aircrafts, the airline’s load factor on this route is reported to reach 80%.  While, lately Cathay Pacific carried some 350 passengers weekly on the Amsterdam-Denpasar, Bali route. 

In the latest development Emirates Airlines informed that the airline will increase its flights to and from the Middle East to Jakarta, from 10 times weekly to 14 times weekly starting early next year, due to positive increase in demand.