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THE TREND of outbound tourism continues to show an increase towards the end of the year. According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the number of Indonesian tourist trips abroad in September 2025 reached 695,610, marking a 5.25% increase compared to the same period the previous year and a 1.6% increase compared to the previous month.
ASEAN countries continue to be the most popular destinations. Malaysia is in the top position with a 28.92% share, followed by Saudi Arabia with 18.77%, and Singapore with 13.09%.
According to Azril Azahari, Chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Intellectuals Association (ICPI), said the trend of interest in outbound tourism is expected to continue until the end of the year, especially during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
“Many people are disappointed with the exorbitant prices for domestic tourism. When traveling with their families, they prefer to go to Malaysia or Singapore because they’re cheaper,” he told kontan.co.id on Wednesday (11/13), 2025.
He explained that cost is now a major factor in travel decisions. Penang or Hainan may offer more cost-effective options compared to Bali or Surabaya. Domestic airfare is a significant factor in the cost of transportation, as the cost of aviation fuel in Indonesia is 28% higher than in Singapore. Consequently, our ticket prices rank among the second highest worldwide, surpassed only by those in Brazil.
Azril also identified areas for enhancement in the realm of domestic tourism, namely traffic congestion, cleanliness, and inadequate promotion.
“Other countries, such as Singapore, have successfully utilized a combination of entertainment and shopping to attract tourists. Indonesia has great potential, as evidenced by shopping centers like Tanah Abang and Thamrin City, but it hasn’t been fully utilized,” he added.
He also criticized the government’s lack of policies to address the year-end tourism surge. There are no specific policies in place leading up to the Christmas and New Year holidays. It appears that our tourism industry is operating on autopilot.
Azril also warned that airline ticket prices could potentially increase in 2026, with the implementation of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as part of the global decarbonization policy.
“Beginning in 2026, Singapore will mandate that airlines utilize a minimum of 1% SAF, with a global target of 3%–5% by 2030. If Indonesia is not prepared, there is a possibility that our aircraft will be prohibited from landing at airports in other countries,” he explained.
Azril notes that this is challenging due to the cost of SAF, which is 6–10 times more expensive than regular aviation fuel. This is further compounded by the fact that Indonesian aviation fuel prices are already among the highest in the world.
“If the cost of aviation fuel is high, and the costs of SAF and insurance are increasing, how can we expect ticket prices to decrease? Pertamina must lower aviation fuel prices, which have remained unchanged,” he concluded.
Azril believes that the government has not demonstrated its readiness to face these challenges. Despite the anticipation of the Christmas and New Year holidays, the situation remains stable. However, there have been no concrete steps taken to address significant changes such as SAF and decarbonization. [kontan.co.id/photo special]
