Singapore, a tiny nation to which I always give my appreciation, is arguably the hottest spot for visitors in Southeast Asia. I have been to Singapore for more than 30 times, and each visit gave me new story about this island.
No wonder, this compact nation remains receiving many millions of visitors per year. In 2009, visitor arrivals to Singapore reached 9.7 million, with total spending of $ 12.4 billion.
Indonesians remains on the top list of the visitor arrivals with 1.8 million, followed by China (934 thousand) and Australia (844 thousands), and other nationalities (Source).
Out of $12 billion disbursed by them, $2.1 billion was contributed by Indonesians’ hungry shoppers. I remembered 5 years ago, I emailed Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and asked them to provide their tourism website in Bahasa Indonesia (instead of only English, and Chinese), considering the growing number of Indonesian middle class (mostly young professional) visiting this nation. And, taraa….they did it.
But, I think we all agree that we should visit more tourism spots in our beloved country for we offer undeniably outstanding natural and cultural experiences as well as modern urban attractions.
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I think, this is not a good news for Indonesian, this is good news for Singaporean. If such amount of Indonesian do the domestic tourism then it’s a good news for Indonesia. Well, unless if you are talking about a website in Bahasa Indonesia in Singapore.
Let’s put it this way, emyz
Indonesians, are known as hungry shoppers. They spend so much $$$, and believe me, it represents the growing number of wealthy indonesians, esp at their younghood.
Thats not a good news. I think we shouldn’t spending our money in that city country, because all good’s we buyed in there dominantly is our made.
From now, every indonesia must “Aku Cinta Indonesia”.
So for everyone who’s spending his money in there, U must to stop doing that.
Thats not SARA. I only want to invites every Indonesian to start loving their homeland product.
Yes, i agree and can see that it means there are growth in wealthy Indonesian. But what i meant by my comment is that if you read the tittle of this article and the content, it didn’t state the positive sides about being a hungry shoppers, nor what it means for Indonesia to be at the top list of tourist visiting Singapore. In short, i think, the way it is written didn’t show any good news for Indonesians, only that
btw, thank you to respond back
Thanks, Emys. Your response is so valuable. Thanks again
Wow! I do remember ur post about writing to the Singapore Tourism Board that they should have brochures in Bahasa Indonesia and alas, here it is!
I think they too know the importance of Indonesian visitors to their shores, and having these brochures is a way of thanking them.
And it’s quite an achievement for u too, Bro Akhyari. The world is now taking notice. Good job, Akhyari and GNFI! Keep it up, guys!
Yeeaah!!
now that’s better!
Keep the great blog up! and for you two thumbs up!
I have nothing to comment, but there is something wrong about our habits, that is uncarelisness
from now Indonesian peoples must”CINTA PRODUK INDONESIA”
i agree!!!!!love Indonesia…love the product
I think we can do better than singapore. Cause we have a lot more than singapore. We have special foods, unique arts, beautiful islands, etc). But there’s no new development from us. It makes “the have people” boring… Cause they can shop nothing here!! Here is usual, common… Not special for them!! Not glamour! So, they bring the money to singapore or abroad to spend it there… Now, its our job to make a new thing, here… Can we??
Hmm, sorry but this isn’t good news at all. At least for us Indonesian, no this isn’t one. For the Singaporean maybe. And I can’t see why most of us Indonesian are very very very proud of being called ‘hungry shoppers’. There’s nothing positive in it. I disagree that with the increasing counts of Indonesian’s hungry shoppers means Indonesians are wealthier. This is consumerism. And if we keeps our lifestyle like this–then we’ll go bankrupt as the most Western-countries now.
It’s quite sad to learn that, as I quote from the article above, “the growing number of Indonesian middle class (mostly young professional)” are somewhat still in this economical-cultural shock. This being sad, most of the Indonesians who belong to this particular group would prefer to go to places like Macau and/or Singapore only for the sake of hey-I’ve-been-abroad stupidity – a pseudo well-traveled title that still lingers within the shallow minds of stereotypical third world citizens.
Even more frustrating, the competitive ticket prices from airlines servicing the routes to the neighboring (yet not necessarily better) countries even make Indonesia’s tourism potentials further out of reach especially for the economically-striving Indonesians to visit. Of course, no one can blame the Indonesians who eagerly prefer to visit the little boxes of Singapore when the airplane ticket to the place is, at many times, cheaper than the one to Bali – let alone to the stunning Papua. In this case, unfortunately, the abundance of love and nationality the Indonesians have for their country can’t afford the ticket to fly them to the treasures of their own home.
Bali is waaaaaaaaay much better!