Central Java Residents Flock to Budget-Friendly Tourist Sites During School Holidays

Head of the Central Java Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy Office (Disbudparekraf), Hanung Triyono, revealed that tourist attractions across the province were packed with visitors during the school holiday period. He noted a shift in visits towards destinations that are cheap or affordable. Hanung stated that the five most visited local tourist sites during the holiday season were Kota Lama Semarang with 275,941 visitors, Prambanan Temple with 251,475 visitors, the Tomb of Aulia Syekh Maulana Maghribi in Batang Regency with 175,722 visitors, Dieng with 116,628 visitors, and Rowo Jombor in Klaten with 77,400 visitors. The visitor numbers were recorded from 20 June to 6 July 2026. Of these five attractions, four—excluding Prambanan Temple—can be accessed at a very affordable cost, or even for free. Kota Lama Semarang, for instance, can be visited without purchasing any ticket. According to Hanung, visits to natural attractions in several areas, particularly beaches, also increased. This was observed in Kebumen, Cilacap, and Purworejo. ‘Nowadays, tourists, especially domestic ones, want to see new things. There are some new beaches there. They also want to see natural conditions,’ Hanung said. Hanung believes another factor driving the increase in visitors to these areas and attractions is their affordability. ‘The cost factor also plays a role. Because at well-established tourist sites, like Borobudur Temple for example, they mostly just stay at the bottom,’ he said. ‘So that factor (cost) is also at play, and also that they can enjoy togetherness,’ he added.