Indonesian Tourism Grows, Panoramic Train Passengers Surge by 62.86 Per Cent
KAI is expanding rail-based tourism experiences through the Panoramic and Nusantara Explorer services.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s tourism growth continues throughout 2026. Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics recorded 10,578,286 international tourist arrivals between January and August 2026, an increase of approximately 5.38 per cent compared to the same period in 2025. Specifically for August 2026, international arrivals reached 1.60 million, while domestic travel was recorded at 104.30 million trips.
This development aligns with the increasing interest in rail-based tourism. Between January and August 20pass 2026, the Panoramic Train served 140,583 passengers, growing by 62.86 per cent compared to 86,322 passengers during the same period last year.
KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication, Anne Purba, stated that this growth demonstrates that travel is increasingly becoming an integral part of the tourism experience.
“More than 10.5 million international arrivals were recorded up to August 2026, while Panoramic passengers grew by 62.86 per cent. This shows the vast potential for railways to become part of the tourism experience from the moment the journey begins,” said Anne.
The Panoramic Train offers an experience of enjoying the landscape throughout the journey through wide-dimension windows and a glass roof. In the first eight months of 2026, the number of passengers increased by 54,261 people compared to the same period in 2025.
From Panoramic to Nusantara Explorer
KAI is continuing this market development through the Nusantara Explorer, which was launched on 28 September 2026. This train set was developed by KAI personnel at the Surabaya Gubeng Workshop, featuring Signature Class, Advanced Class, Compact Class, Grand Restaurant, Lounge, and Kitchen & Crew.
The Nusantara Explorer is designed to provide a more complete travel experience through private spaces, culinary offerings, premium service, and the Indonesian identity brought into the journey.
“Panoramic provides the experience of enjoying the landscapes passed. Nusantara Explorer takes that experience further through a blend of travel, private spaces, culinary, and premium service within a single train set,” said Anne.
Growth is also evident in KAI Wisata as a whole. Between January and August 2026, KAI Wisata served 216,980 passengers, an increase of 49.09 per cent compared to 145,537 passengers during the same period in 2025.
In addition to Panoramic, KAI Wisata offers various services such as Priority, Imperial, Special Trains, Bali Train, Sumatra Train, Toraja Train, Java Train, Nusantara Train, KAIS 3, and KAIS 4, including special travel and charter options.
The market potential is further strengthened by the movement of foreign tourists. Between January and August 2026, 760,601 foreign nationals were recorded using KAI Group services, consisting of 498,232 long-distance and local KAI passengers and 262,369 Whoosh high-speed rail passengers.
The highest activity of foreign passengers on KAI services was recorded in Yogyakarta with 93,189 passengers, followed by Gambir with 84,011 passengers and Bandung with 45,400 passengers.
“When tourists move between cities, travel time becomes an element that can be developed into an experience. Panoramic has shown a strong market response, while Nusantara Explorer opens wider opportunities for tourism travel with premium and personalised characteristics,” said Anne.
Between January and August 2026, KAI Group served 351,602,397 passengers, an increase of 7.09 per cent compared to the same period the previous year.
“Indonesia has incredibly diverse landscapes, cultures, cuisines, and destinations. Through Panoramic and Nusantara Explorer, KAI aims to present rail travel as an increasingly attractive part of exploring the Archipelago,” Anne concluded.