Airlines Open New Domestic Routes, Kemenpar Gives Appreciation: Strengthen Tourist Connectivity

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Tourism (Kemenpar) appreciates and welcomes the enthusiasm of a number of airlines that continue to expand and present new routes so as to strengthen air connectivity while facilitating tourist mobility.

Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, in a statement in Jakarta, Monday (24/02/2025) said that in recent times several airlines have opened new flight routes, including Lion Air with 4 new routes and Wings Air with 13 new routes.

The Lion Air and Wings Air flights are expected to attract more tourists, both foreign and domestic. Because connectivity is the key to increasing the number of tourist visits," said Made.

Lion Air has presented 4 new routes as well as connecting Palangkaraya to Makassar, Bali, Lombok, and Manado flight routes to Bali.

This route will be operated with Boeing 737-800NG (189 economy class seats) and the Boeing 737-900ER (215 economy class seats) from 21 and 22 March 2025.

Makassar is the main gateway to Eastern Indonesia. With this direct connectivity, we hope to make it easier for tourists from Palangkaraya to reach big cities in Sulawesi and its surroundings. Then the Bali route also offers great opportunities for the people of Palangkaraya to vacation or develop businesses in the tourism sector," said Made.

Meanwhile, Wings Air has opened flight routes from Kendari to Wakatobi and Morowali, Makassar route to Poso, Selayar, and Raha Muna Island, Manado route to Gorontalo, Palu route to Gorontalo and Ampana Tojo Una-una, Tahuna route to Melonguane and Manado, Balikpapan route to Tanjung Selor, Ternate route to Maba, East Halmahera, as well as the Kualanamu route to Nagan Raya.

These routes will be operated using an ATR 72 aircraft with a capacity of 72 economy class seats, which is designed ideally to serve short and medium-range routes in the archipelago.

Made explained, in addition to increasing the mobility of tourists, the opening of this new route has the potential to support economic growth and development of an area.

"With the increase in the number of tourists and businessmen to Wakatobi, it will certainly have a positive impact on the regional economy, including in terms of potential increase in income for local business actors, lodging, restaurants, and other tourism service providers," said Made.