Did the Solar Eclipse of 9 March 2016 Attract Tourist to Come to Indonesia?

Abstract

Solar eclipse phenomenon is one of the spectacular events in nature. On 9 March 2016, the solar eclipse happened in several regions in Indonesia. This event attracted tourists to visit Indonesia. The tourists came for not only seeing the beautiful solar eclipse scene but also getting sensation of myths and cultures in Indonesia during the solar eclipse. Here, the aim of this study was to discuss about the effects of solar eclipse event on the increases in the number of tourists to Indonesia and influence of foreign exchange in Indonesia. Research methodology used in this study was a literature study comparing to statistical data of a number of tourists who come to Indonesia. To investigate about myths in Indonesia, we took literature study by collecting information from international journals relating to myths in Indonesia. Afterwards, to investigate the tourist effect on economy of Indonesia, we used data from Indonesian Central Bureau of Statistics about hotel occupancy and exchange rate . The data was also compared to the economic data (before and after total solar eclipse occur). In conclusion, although ancient people agree that the solar eclipse is a dangerous event, the modern people think that the event is one of the spectacular phenomena. Combination of beautiful nature with myths and cultures in Indonesia attracted more tourists to visit Indonesia. Indeed, the event gave beneficial points for Indonesian people because tourists gave a financial advantage to local people. Thus, the long-term goal is to give information that Indonesian people must be able to take chance the natural wealth of Indonesia to attract tourists to improve the local economy in Indonesia.