Long Ascension Day Holiday Sees Train Ticket Sales Surpass 500,000

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The atmosphere of the long Ascension Day holiday is already evident from the increased mobility of the public using train transportation.

As of Tuesday, 12 May 2026 at 10:00 WIB, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) recorded ticket sales for the departure period of 13–17 May 2026 reaching 504,655 tickets.

Of that number, departures on Wednesday, 13 May 2026 are currently the highest with sales reaching 126,831 tickets.

Meanwhile, for Thursday, 14 May 2026, coinciding with the national Ascension Day holiday, 113,807 tickets have been sold.

Then on Saturday, 16 May 2026, 82,491 tickets have been recorded as sold, while Sunday, 17 May 2026 reaches 111,998 tickets in line with the return flow of the public after the long holiday.

“Travels during this long weekend are dominated by cities synonymous with tourism, cuisine, and a comfortable holiday atmosphere that is easily accessible by train,” said Vice President Corporate Communication of KAI, Anne Purba, in a written statement on Tuesday (12/5/2026).

“Trains remain the public’s choice for enjoying the long holiday because the journey feels more relaxed and practical. Customers can arrive directly in the city centre and continue their tourist trips more easily,” Anne continued.

Anne said that Yogyakarta has once again become the most sought-after destination by the public.

As of 12 May 2026 at 10:00 WIB, the Yogyakarta–Gambir route recorded 9,547 passengers and Gambir–Yogyakarta 8,612 passengers.

This cultural city is always bustling during holiday seasons.

Areas such as Malioboro, Keraton Yogyakarta, Tugu Jogja, and the evening atmosphere at Alun-Alun continue to be attractions sought by tourists.

Not to mention nearby attractions like Prambanan Temple, Kaliurang, and various typical culinary options that are easily accessible from the station.

Meanwhile, the Lempuyangan–Pasarsenen and Pasarsenen–Lempuyangan routes also rank among the favourites with a total of more than 15,000 passengers.

The high number of trips to Yogyakarta shows that this city remains a mainstay destination for the public for short getaways during long weekends. She said that trips to Semarang are also experiencing an increase.