Train Travel is Increasingly Popular, Tourists Look for More Memorable Experiences

JAKARTA - For many people, holidays are no longer just about destinations. How to get to a tourist destination is now as important as the destination you want to visit. Comfortable, safe, and enjoyable tourist transportation is an important part of creating an unforgettable travel experience.

This trend is also beginning to be seen in Indonesia. People are now increasingly enjoying travel as part of a tourist activity or journey experience. Instead of rushing to the destination, many tourists actually want to enjoy every moment during the journey. Starting from the atmosphere of the station, the comfort of transportation, to the services provided.

One example of the transformation of tourist transportation can be seen from PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) or KAI. Throughout January-March 2026, KAI served more than 128 million customers, an increase of around 10% compared to the same period last year.

This figure shows that more and more people are using trains as a transportation option, including for traveling to various regions in Indonesia.

For tourists, choosing a mode of transportation is no longer just considering price or travel time. Factors such as comfort, safety, ease of access, and experience during the trip are now the main considerations. This shows that the quality of transportation has a major role in supporting tourism growth.

According to Djoko Setijowarno, Academic and Land Transportation Observer, the change in train services starts with internal improvements before it is felt by customers.

Djoko explained that the transformation was realized through various improvements, ranging from sterilizing stations to improving the quality of facilities. Stations that were previously poorly organized are slowly changing to be cleaner, brighter, safer, and more comfortable.

Support facilities such as toilets and prayer rooms have also been improved to provide a better travel experience for the public, including tourists from various regions.

"Transformation starts from within the organization before being given to customers. This approach is more effective than making external changes without being supported by internal improvements. The results have also been seen and supported by customers," said Djoko Setijowarno in a podcast titled 'Looking at the Transformation of Railway Services in Indonesia. It's Global!'.

For the tourism sector, transportation transformation has a very big impact. Comfortable access makes it easier for people to explore new destinations, make spontaneous weekend trips, to explore cities that were previously rarely visited. The better the quality of transportation, the greater the opportunity for tourist destinations to develop.

This view is reinforced by Taufik Effendi, a Travel Content Creator who has tried out train services in 24 countries. His experience exploring various transportation systems in the world makes his assessment of KAI's development more relevant.

According to him, the transformation of KAI is not only visible from a physical perspective, but is also reflected in the quality of services that continue to develop over time.

Taufik admitted that he had been following KAI's developments since he was still in school. Taufik felt the big changes that had taken place, ranging from the condition of the station, the convenience of travel, to the service which is now much better than a few years ago.

"I have experienced KAI's transformation from the past to the present. The change is far away. Now riding a train is not just about moving places, but it has become a pleasant experience," said Taufik Effendi in a podcast titled 'Why can Video Riding a Train Be Watched by Millions of People? The Secret of Storytelling Travel Content' at Marketeers TV.

The statement describes the changing behavior of today's travelers. Travel is no longer considered a time to be passed through, but rather a part of the vacation story itself.

Many tourists deliberately choose train travel because they can enjoy the natural panorama, the increasingly comfortable atmosphere of the station, to a more relaxed travel experience than other modes of transportation.

This phenomenon is also seen from the increasing popularity of train travel content on social media. Videos about cross-city travel, views from behind the window, to experiences exploring destinations using trains have become an inspiration for many people to plan their next travel trip.

For the tourism industry, this condition is a positive signal. Quality transportation is able to encourage the movement of domestic tourists as well as expanding access to tourist destinations in various regions. The increasingly better transportation infrastructure also helps to distribute tourist visits so that they are not only concentrated in large cities.

The transformation does not stop at updating facilities and service systems. KAI also continues to rejuvenate locomotive units and trains as part of improving service quality. This effort shows that the transformation is carried out continuously so that the travel experience of tourists continues to increase in accordance with community needs.

Comfortable travel comes from many aspects, ranging from infrastructure, technology, services, to the work culture behind transportation operations. When all these elements are built consistently, the public not only gets mobility convenience, but also a better quality travel experience.

The journey of KAI's transformation has also been immortalized in the Philip Kotler Museum of Marketing with Hermawan Kartajaya. Located at MCorp's office in Office 88, Kota Kasablanka, this museum showcases KAI's long journey of transformation from time to time.

The first transformation focuses on the development of rail networks and train infrastructure. At that time, the station was still open without a digital system, tickets were still using manual paper, and the customer experience was not a major concern.

As the needs of the community grow and domestic tourism activities increase, KAI has begun to implement a more customer-centric approach. Innovations such as online ticket purchases, e-Kiosk, boarding passes, station improvements, to digitization through the KAI Access application, the use of QR Codes, and the integration of various services are an important foundation in presenting a journey that is increasingly practical for tourists.

Now KAI is entering the next digital phase through the implementation of more personal technology. Features such as face recognition-based check-in, cross-platform cashless payment, real-time travel tracking, and loyalty programs make it easier for people to enjoy travel without obstacles.

This development is also an education that transportation is no longer just a means to a destination. In the modern tourism industry, transportation is part of the tourist experience that is able to create impressions, comfort, and stories during the journey.

With more than 128 million customers entrusting their journey to KAI in just the first three months of 2026, the transformation shows that the ever-evolving quality of transportation will further strengthen Indonesia's tourism ecosystem.

When the journey feels comfortable, safe, and enjoyable, people are increasingly encouraged to explore more destinations, get to know new cultures, and enjoy the wealth of Indonesian tourism from the first trip to arriving at the destination.