Sandiaga Claims Garuda Indonesia Aircraft Tickets Bali Route Drops 45 Percent

Menparekraf Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno in the Final episode of The Weekly Brief with Sandi Uno which was held in Jakarta, Monday (14/10/2024). ANTARA/Sinta Ambar

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) revealed that Garuda Indonesia's national airline flight ticket has decreased by 45 percent for the route to Bali Island.

"For Garuda Indonesia, which was IDR 1.4-1.6 million (decrease) compared to the previous IDR 3 million, there has been quite a lot of decline. It's 45 percent," said Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno at a weekly press conference reported by ANTARA, Monday, October 14.

Sandiaga explained that previously he had communicated with the President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Irfan Setiaputra, about the decrease in ticket prices which he said were more affordable.

However, he explained that the ticket price from or to the Island of the Gods did not evenly decrease, aka occurs at certain hours beyond the time of consumer's favorite choice.

"Indeed, there are certain hours that are still very high, but those are the hours that seem like favorites to return from Bali at 9 pm. That can't be overcome," he explained.

Previously, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy said connectivity was the key in increasing foreign tourist visits (tourists) to Indonesia.

"Conactivity is the key to increasing the number of foreign tourist visits to Indonesia," he said.

Bali Province contributed about 80 percent to foreign tourist visits in Indonesia from this year's target of 17 million people.

"Bali is still the main magnet for tourists who come to Indonesia," said Director of Tourism Marketing of the Archipelago of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Dwi Marhen Yono.

Meanwhile, the target for the arrival of foreign tourists this year in Indonesia was increased from the initial 14.3 million to 17 million due to observing the realization in 2023.

Especially for Bali, foreign tourist visits in 2023 will reach 5.2 million people and by 2024 it is targeted to reach 7 million people.

Meanwhile, from the connectivity side of the air route to Bali, until May 2024 Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport is connected to 19 domestic routes by 13 airlines and 33 international routes by 36 airlines.