Indonesia is experiencing a notable increase in holiday travel, with more citizens venturing out for seasonal breaks. The country, home to the world’s third-largest population of 276 million people, is seeing significant growth in its middle class. This demographic shift is driving higher demand for travel, both domestically and internationally.
According to the Ministry of Transportation, an estimated 110.67 million Indonesians are expected to travel during the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year holidays. This marks an increase from the previous year’s 107.63 million travellers, a sign of the growing appetite for travel among Indonesia’s expanding middle class. This rise is partly due to increased disposable incomes, greater access to affordable travel options, and a shift in cultural attitudes towards leisure and exploration.
Most of the movement is expected to occur on Java Island and in major urban centres. Dudy Purwagandhi, Minister of Transportation, stated, "Most of the movement is likely to take place on Java Island and in the agglomeration of large cities." With rising urbanisation, many Indonesians are now opting for both domestic and international travel to take advantage of festive breaks.
Outbound travel is predicted to peak on 24 December 2024, followed by another surge on 31 December 2024. The highest return traffic will occur from 1 to 2 January 2025, as people head back after their holiday travels.
Pratikno, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, reassured that efforts are in place to ensure safe and smooth travel during this busy period, in line with the country's expanding tourism and transport infrastructure.