I'nesians head for S'pore for holiday
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Indonesia's weak currency does not seem to be stopping people from having a good time and going on vacation, particularly to neighboring countries like Singapore and Malaysia, for the year-end holidays.
The immigration office in Batam, Riau Islands, has seen a sharp increase in the number of Indonesians crossing to Singapore for a break ahead of New Year’s Eve.
Batam Immigration Office head Yudi Kurniadi told The Jakarta Post the number of people crossing to Singapore and Malaysia from Batam had since Dec 22 increased by up to 300 per cent from the usual 2,000 to 3,000 per day.
“Most of them are going for Christmas, school and New Year holidays,” said Yudi, adding that Indonesians leaving for Singapore mostly came from outside Batam. He said they were interested in a ferry tour package worth 300,000 rupiah (US$24) per person for a return trip to Singapore.
In Yogyakarta, hundreds of hotels and motels are fully booked ahead of New Year’s Eve, while transport operators are raising their seating capacity.
The hotel occupancy rate in Yogyakarta reached 95 per cent on Sunday. There are 41 starred hotels with 4,115 rooms and 425 motels offering 7,300 rooms in the region.
All hotels along Jl Malioboro, however, were full.
“I’m sure that on Tuesday all the hotels will have an occupancy rate of 100 per cent,” the secretary of Yogyakarta chapter of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) Deddy Pranowo Eryono said on Sunday.
Low-cost carrier Citilink Indonesia has increased its flights serving Adisucipto International Airport in Sleman regency, just outside Yogyakarta city.
“Our load factor for Yogyakarta is 95 per cent, higher than the national average of 90 per cent,” said Citilink vice president of sales and distribution Agung Dewanta.
State train operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia’s Operation Region 6/Yogyakarta is also adding more trains to and from Yogyakarta during the holiday season.
Hotels in Senggigi Beach area in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) were also enjoying good business for the New Year holiday.
As of Saturday, the occupancy rate for tourist accommodation – starred and budget hotels – in the area was at 80 per cent.
“The good trend has taken place over the last two months. Normally, the occupancy rate is between 68 and 72 per cent. It’s quite likely that this trend will last until January 7,” Lombok Hotels Association (LHA) head Stephane Servin told the Post on Saturday.
LHA represents 28 starred hotels in Lombok, most of which are in Senggigi.
Stephane, who is also general manager of The Santosa Villas & Resort Senggigi, said most guests had come from France, Germany and the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore. Domestic tourists hailed from Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung.
NTB Tourism Promotion Board (BPPD) head Awanadhi Aswinabawa said the number of tourist arrivals this year was likely to increase compared to last year.
“In 2012, there were 1.3 million tourists coming to [the region]. We are optimistic that there will be a 20 to 30 per cent increase this year,” Awanadhi said, adding that the opening of direct flights to Lombok boosted arrivals.
