InJourney-Garuda Invites Wisman Spread to Destinations Outside Bali-Jakarta

Photo: Dok. InJourney

JAKARTA - PT Aviasi Pariwisata Indonesia (Persero) or InJourney together with PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk encourage the spread of foreign tourists (wisman) to more destinations in Indonesia.

This effort is carried out so that tourist visits are not only concentrated in Bali and Jakarta.

The collaboration was realized through the Free Domestic Flight program which provides 170,845 free domestic flight seats for foreign tourists holding Garuda Indonesia international round-trip tickets.

Garuda Indonesia Marketing Group Head Prina Eka Putri said the program was designed to change the pattern of foreign tourists' travel so that they do not just stop at one destination after arriving in Indonesia.

"This program wants to change the travel pattern that is just arrive, but also discover more Indonesia," said Prina at the Garuda Indonesia and InJourney collaboration event for increasing inbound connectivity in Jakarta, written Wednesday, August 12.

The program runs from August to the end of November 2026. Wisman who travels back and forth using Garuda Indonesia international flights can take advantage of free domestic flight facilities in accordance with the provisions of the program.

According to Prina, this program is not only aimed at increasing the number of Garuda Indonesia passengers on international routes. The movement of foreign tourists to other destinations in Indonesia is expected to have a wider economic impact, ranging from the hospitality sector, MSMEs, shopping centers, to transportation.

"The impact we hope for is not only for Garuda, but also for the whole of Indonesia," he said.

Meanwhile, Southeast Asia Branch Manager of Garuda Indonesia Agny Gallus Pratama said the program was also a strategy to optimize the load factor of international flights in the second semester of 2026.

However, according to him, the purpose of the program is not only to improve the performance of the airline, but also to strengthen the position of Garuda Indonesia as a national flag carrier that brings tourists to get to know Indonesia more broadly.

"Not only Jakarta and Bali, but beyond that in all of Indonesia. This is the big mission of this program," said Agny.

Bali is still the largest entry point for foreigners.

Assistant Deputy for International Tourism Marketing I of the Ministry of Tourism, Dedi Ahmad Kurnia, said this program has strategic value because around 70 percent of foreign tourist visits to Indonesia use air routes.

Currently, continued Dedi, Bali is still the largest entry point with a contribution of around 40 percent, while Jakarta is in the range of 17 percent. This condition shows the need for strengthening connectivity so that tourists can continue their journey to other destinations.

"Not only coming to Jakarta or Bali, but how can this make us discover more Indonesia to other destinations in Indonesia," said Dedi.

According to Dedi, the spread of tourists to more areas can also support the shift of the tourism sector from merely chasing the number of visits to quality tourism.

At least there are three benefits expected from this travel pattern, namely to facilitate tourists to continue domestic travel, spread the flow of tourists to more destinations, and increase the potential for long stay or length of stay.

"In addition to increasing the number, it will also increase the quality of tourists," he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Vice President Corporate Secretary of PT Aviasi Pariwisata Indonesia (Persero) or InJourney Yudhistira Setiawan said that the success of tourism is not enough to be measured by the number of foreign tourists who come to Indonesia.

Long stay, the number of destinations visited, and tourist spending are also important indicators.

Based on data provided by Yudhistira, the average spending of foreign tourists in the second quarter of 2026 reached around US$1,285 with an average stay of around 10 nights.

"Quality tourism is not about how one tourist arrival can create greater value, but rather how the benefits are wider for Indonesia," he said.

Therefore, the free domestic flight program is aimed at encouraging tourists to extend their trip after arriving in Indonesia. A number of areas such as Yogyakarta, Central Java, and Lombok are destinations that have received attention in strengthening connectivity.

Yudhistira said Yogyakarta and Central Java have the power of destinations as well as various international agendas. The strengthening of connectivity in the region is expected to encourage tourists to visit a number of destinations, including Borobudur and Prambanan.

In addition, he said, Lombok has strength through the Mandalika area which not only offers natural and marine tourism, but also becomes the location for the MotoGP.

According to him, strengthening connectivity is not merely bringing tourists from one airport to another destination.

InJourney wants to build a travel ecosystem so that tourists can stay longer, enjoy more experiences, and provide a wider economic impact.

InJourney also brings the concept of a seamless journey, which is to provide a traveler's travel experience from arriving at the airport, to the destination, enjoying accommodation and tourist activities, to returning to the country of origin.

"We don't see tourists as just passengers who come and go, but we see them as travelers who we have to serve throughout their journey," said Yudhistira.