Indonesian Tourists Flock to Java, While Sumatra Hotels Remain Quiet During Long Holiday
The Eid al-Adha long weekend has brought varying impacts to the national hospitality sector. Several tourist areas on Java Island are enjoying high occupancy rates, whereas hotels in Sumatra have not seen the same level of activity as those in Java.
The Secretary General of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), Maulana Yuslan, noted that most tourists are choosing destinations close to their places of origin that are accessible via land routes. “The impact varies across different regions; we cannot generalise. Some areas, due to the nature of Eid al-Adha sacrifices, see very low occupancy on the first day,” he told CNBC Indonesia on Tuesday.
Religious activities on the first day of Eid al-Adha tend to keep people in their home regions, meaning hotel occupancy in several areas has yet to see an increase. “The second and third days usually see a rise, but the increase is not very significant. Regions on Java Island, however, are recording increased occupancy because people prefer shorter journeys that allow for road trips,” he added.
Tourist hubs such as Bandung, Puncak, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta have become primary destinations during the long weekend. Easy transport access and more affordable travel costs make these areas favourite choices. “There are reports from Bandung where occupancy can reach 80% to 90%. This indicates a fairly good increase during the long holiday period,” said Maulana.
In contrast to Java, hotels in Sumatra have not yet experienced a similar surge. While tourism activity increases on the second and third days of the holiday, the scale remains limited. “In Sumatra, such as in Padang, it is not very significant. Movement only occurs on the second and third days, after which the increase is not substantial,” he noted.
According to Maulana, the rise in occupancy in Sumatra occurs more frequently during weekends that coincide with long holiday periods. On the first day of Eid al-Adha, occupancy levels in several areas remained low. “On the first day, it can be below 50%. Because it is the day of sacrifice, most people remain in their respective regions and have not yet embarked on tourist trips,” Maulana explained.
Nevertheless, PHRI assesses that the momentum of the long weekend still provides additional tourist movement for the hospitality industry, although the benefits have not been felt equally across all tourist destinations in Indonesia. “There is an increase on Saturday and Sunday, but the rise is not very significant, around 5% to 10% compared to normal conditions,” he concluded.