Final foreign direct arrival numbers for 2004 indicate Bali set a new
all-time record for foreign visitors in 2004, totaling 1,458.309 visitors - a number that's 3.2% better than the previous record set in 2000. Also setting new records for Bali arrivals in 2004 was the entire Asia-Pacific region (excluding ASEAN) which generated 926,570 visitors - a number representing 63.5% of all Bali arrivals. The four leading source countries for Bali tourist arrivals were all from the Asia-Pacific region. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Australia constituted 58.8% of all arrivals to Bali.
Australians are also returning to Bali in the wake of the 2002 Bali
bombings. In 2004, more Australians than ever before visited Bali returning the island to its former position as Australia's most preferred overseas holiday destination.
Meanwhile, Japanese arrivals remained the largest inbound
market for Bali (326,397), a total still 10% behind the "best ever" year for Japanese visitors recorded in 2000. Among ASEAN countries, visitors from Singapore and Malaysia led the charge visiting Bali in 2004. In all, 128,456 people from ASEAN countries traveled came to Bali during the year, a total 157% higher than the total generated just five years before in 2000. The upsurge in arrivals from the Asia-Pacific region mitigated the declines in visitors from the Americas and Europe where arrivals still lag behind 1999 figures.
Source: International Asia Pacific Weekly News