Indonesia saw 1.14 million tourist arrivals in April, that was a faster pace than the 12.8 percent annual rise in arrivals in March. The figure is also 26.75 percent higher than in the same period last year, according to a report from the Central Statistic Agency (BPS).

BPS data also shows that the highest Indonesia tourists arrivals percentage is at the Sam Ratulangi International Airport in North Sulawesi, followed by the Lombok International Airport in West Nusa Tenggara.

A good example of how direct flights could attract tourists, BPS head Suhariyanto said during a press conference on Friday, adding that the airport had opened direct flights to eight cities in #China, including Guangzhou.

“We need more [direct flights] as they are more affordable and more efficient for tourists,” he said.

Meanwhile, the number of tourists entering#Indonesia through border posts jumped by 333.9 percent to 96,130 in April, compared to 22,150 entries in the same month last year.

The agency also recorded an average occupancy rate of 55.14 percent across the country, an increase compared to April 2016 at 54.38 percent.