{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1823877,
        "msgid": "ministry-eyes-saudi-tourists-via-garuda-empty-leg-flights-1782388211",
        "date": "2026-06-25 17:46:45",
        "title": "Ministry eyes Saudi tourists via Garuda empty-leg flights",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_EN",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Economy",
        "summary": "Indonesia's Tourism Ministry is backing a plan to fill Garuda Indonesia return flights from Hajj pilgrimages with Saudi tourists, after Saudi Arabia permitted commercial passenger carriage on previously empty legs. The initiative aims to attract high-spending visitors, with over 1,700 seats already filled, and the ministry plans to intensify digital promotions and business matchmaking in Saudi Arabia. The effort aligns with President Prabowo's goal of maximising national assets to drive sustainable tourism growth.",
        "content": "<p>The initiative follows a decision by Saudi Arabia\u2019s General Authority\nof Civil Aviation (GACA), which has officially allowed Indonesia\u2019s flag\ncarrier to carry commercial passengers on return flights that previously\nflew empty after transporting Indonesian Hajj pilgrims to Saudi.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn principle, the Tourism Ministry fully supports and welcomes this\ndevelopment, as we have clear targets for foreign tourist arrivals in\nIndonesia,\u201d Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Luh Puspa said at a press\nconference in Jakarta on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the short preparation time this year, the initiative has\nshown promise with around 1,723 seats on empty-leg flights already\nfilled.<\/p>\n<p>With longer preparation period ahead of the next Hajj season, the\nministry aims to further increase passenger occupancy on the return\nflights.<\/p>\n<p>To achieve this goal, Puspa emphasized the need for close\ncoordination among the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Garuda Indonesia, and\nthe Transportation Ministry, particularly in strengthening promotional\nstrategies.<\/p>\n<p>The strategic pivot toward the Saudi Arabian market is designed to\nattract high-spending visitors to Indonesian destinations.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, the ministry plans to intensify promotional campaigns in\nSaudi Arabia through digital marketing, sales missions and\nbusiness-to-business (B2B) matchmaking events.<\/p>\n<p>This targeted approach aims to fill the aircraft with high-spending\nSaudi Arabian tourists, allowing the ministry to measure and maximize\ntheir economic impact while in Indonesia.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need data from Garuda Indonesia regarding the tourists\u2019 final\ndestinations within Indonesia, so we can strengthen those specific local\neconomies and tourism industries,\u201d Puspa said.<\/p>\n<p>She added that this inter-ministerial synergy fulfills a key economic\nobjective in line with President Prabowo Subianto\u2019s goal to maximize\nnational assets and drive sustainable tourism growth across the\narchipelago.<\/p>\n<p>Related news: Indonesia targets 1.18 bln domestic tourist trips in\n2026<\/p>\n<p>Translator: M. Riezko Bima Elko Prasetyo, Yashinta Difa<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ministry-eyes-saudi-tourists-via-garuda-empty-leg-flights-1782388211",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}