Garuda Indonesia Hopes That Demand For Flights Will Increase After The Reopening Of Travel To Japan

Garuda Indonesia aircraft. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Garuda Indonesia hopes that the Japanese Government's policy of reopening visa-free travel for foreign tourists to Japan starting October 11, 2022, can increase flight demand.

"Of course, with the reopening of tourist trips to Japan on October 11, demand can be met and increased," said General Manager of Garuda Indonesia for Japan and Korea Sony Sahlan, as quoted from Antara, Wednesday, October 12.

Even though this policy opens up the flow of foreign tourists to Japan, Sony believes that it can also spark the interest of Japanese tourists to Indonesia, especially to Bali because it signifies the readiness of Japan and its citizens to resume their post-pandemic journey.

"The market for flights to Bali is Japanese tourists. We hope tourists can visit Bali as much as possible," he said.

Sony said the reopening of travel for tourists to Japan also prompted Garuda Indonesia to operate the Tokyo-Denpasar PP route again starting November 1, 2022.

"We've actually wanted to open flights to Bali for a long time, we just adjusted to Japan. At that time Bali was ready, but Japan wasn't. We can't rely on Balinese passengers going to Japan alone, it won't be effective. With Japan opening again on October 11, like it or not want us to be ready even though the time is a bit challenging," he said.

He hopes that the reopening of the route can support the government's program to bring in as many foreign tourists as possible after the pandemic.

Garuda Indonesia will re-operate the Tokyo-Denpasar PP route starting November 1, 2022, through Narita Airport with a frequency of three times a week, including every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday with flight numbers GA881 and GA880.

The route last operated in 2019 or before the COVID-19 pandemic with a daily frequency.

During the pandemic, Garuda has operated flights from Tokyo, but not directly because the route Manado-Tokyo-Denpasar and from Manado to Tokyo are only cargo flights.

Japan has reopened visa-free travel starting October 11, 2022 for tourists from various countries, one of which is Indonesia, as an effort to restore the country's economy, especially from the tourism sector.