China, E. Europe top picks for RI travelers

Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Idul Fitri holiday is traditionally the peak season for tour operators, with millions of people traveling around the country by plane, train and boat, and staying in hotels.

But while the majority of the people travel to their hometowns to spend the holiday with family, a small number of people take the opportunity to travel abroad.

"With domestic helpers returning home during the holiday and with nothing happening in Jakarta, lots of people take a package tour abroad," Panorama Tours' head of leisure and business development, Meity Monica, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Idul Fitri falls on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 this year, and millions of people across the country are expected to return to their hometowns for the celebrations.

However, because the holiday is much shorter this year Indonesian globe-trotters are having to stay a little closer to home.

"Previous holidays were much longer because the Idul Fitri and Christmas holidays were combined, so people could go farther away on their holidays. This year many people are choosing destinations around Asia because of the proximity," Meity said.

She said Panorama Tours had booked at least 42 groups on package tours to Bangkok and Hong Kong for the holiday, with each tour lasting between five and nine days and priced at between US$500 to $1,000 per person.

"Hong Kong is popular of course because of Disneyland, which people want to see," Meity said.

Hong Kong Disneyland opened on Sept. 12.

Mainland China is another top destination for holidaymakers this year, with Smailing Tour offering a 12-day trip to Beijing, Shanghai, Guiling, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong for between $1,000 to $2,000 per person.

Wita Tour is offering its clients something a bit more adventurous. Tour manager Edward Tjie said Wita Tour's most popular destinations in China this year were the Jiu Zhai Gou nature preserve in southwest China and the Zhang Jia Jie national park in southern China.

"Tourists want to see new things, follow new routes, because they have already been on the usual tours," Edward said.

A 10-day tour costing $2,290 per person will take travelers to a number of fascinating sights, including Jiu Zhai Gou, which is a World Nature Heritage site.

Edward said that while Europe remained a favorite destination for Indonesians, his clients wanted to see something different.

For these adventurous travelers, Wita Tour offers a 15-day tour of Russia, Scandinavia and various eastern European countries for $3,920 per person.

Edward said the tour operator had booked about 70 tour groups for both Chinese and European destinations.