Several Tourists Cancel Holidays to NTB Due to Rising Airfare Prices

Several tourists have cancelled their planned visits to West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) following the increase in airfare prices to and from Lombok International Airport. The rise in air ticket prices is due to the surge in global avtur prices amid the conflict in the Middle East.

The Head of the NTB Tourism and Creative Economy Office, Ahmad Nur Aulia, acknowledged the phenomenon of these visit cancellations. This information was obtained from several travel agents, particularly for tourists using flight routes with transits in the Middle East.

The central government’s increase in domestic flight tariffs by around 13% in April 2026 has made ticket prices even less affordable. In fact, for the Jakarta-Lombok route, ticket prices are reported to be nearly touching Rp 4 million.

“Yes, we received information from several travel agents; due to this geopolitical dynamic, some have suspended, especially those transiting through the Middle East route, like Dubai and Qatar,” said Aulia on Wednesday (29/4/2026).

Nevertheless, Aulia does not know the detailed number of tourists who have cancelled or postponed holidays at various NTB destinations. However, this situation is not solely triggered by the rise in air ticket prices but also by factors of international flight connectivity affected by the global situation, particularly those through Middle Eastern airspace.

However, Aulia has not yet seen a significant impact on overall tourist visit numbers. Although several destinations are acknowledged to be relatively quiet, this is considered normal, especially during the low season period.

“It hasn’t impacted yet if looking at it now because this is also the low season position right now,” explained Aulia.

The NTB government, according to Aulia, has recorded a central incentive policy in the form of a reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT) on air tickets during the April to June 2026 period. This policy is hoped to suppress ticket prices to make them more affordable.

“Yes, hopefully, we hope that tickets can become more friendly for tourists coming here,” said Aulia.

Amid this situation, tourism players in NTB are said to still be able to survive with their respective strategies. Aulia also emphasised that the target of 2.5 million tourist visits to NTB in 2026 remains maintained.

Aulia is optimistic that the visit trend will increase upon entering the high season in the coming months. Because several tourism events to be held are also expected to support tourist visits.