ABSTRACT
This study aims to investigate correlation knowledge competencies about Indonesia and the number of Indonesian tourist attractions visited. This research used the correlation method by linking knowledge competencies about Indonesia and the number of Indonesian tourist attractions visited. The data was also supported by interviewing to find several factors that made them compelled to come to Indonesia. The participants is a student from an Indonesian language learner for foreign speaker class or called BIPA. The participants take from BIPA learners academic years 2018–2020 at one of the private Indonesian language courses in Indonesia. The results show that all of tourists from various countries who have a high level of literacy about Indonesia visit more tourist attractions than BIPA students who lack knowledge about tourist attractions in Indonesia. Knowledge about tourist attractions is obtained from BIPA learning and other media. The higher literacy about Indonesia makes their curiosity higher. This implies that language and culture learning for foreigners plays an important role in developing business in the tourism sector.
