Indonesia’s tourist industry is well on its way to achieving its eight million visitor target this year, recording an 8.81 percent growth in international arrivals for the first five months of 2012 compared to the same period last year.

According to the Visit Indonesia Tourism Office in Australia, the country has welcomed 3.18 million visitors for the year to May 2012, up from last year’s 2.92 million over the same period.

The tourist bureau’s spokesperson said May alone reached 650,883 in visitor numbers, up 8.45 percent over the same month last year.

The highest entry point was Bandung’s Husein Sastranegara Airport with a 26.53 percent growth over the first five months last year followed by Polonia Airport in Medan which saw its arrival count jump 13.87 percent over the same period in 2011.

Overall Indonesia is hoping to welcome up to eight million tourists this year, a 4.56 percent growth on the 7.64 million arrivals in 2011. 

Earlier this month the Visit Indonesia Tourism Office hosted its 2012 Australia Sales Mission in Sydney, showcasing its products and destination features to best sellers across the city.