Jakarta/Bali/Yogyakarta. The year-end holiday season is drawing near, with mixed signals emerging across key travel destinations. Bali is seeing a drop in tourist arrivals, Jakarta’s main airport is reporting rising activity, and Malioboro in Yogyakarta recorded an influx of domestic tourists over the weekend.

In recent days, posts circulating on social media have suggested that Bali — Indonesia’s top tourist destination — appears unusually quiet ahead of the holidays, with videos showing empty streets in areas typically packed with visitors. Activity at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport has also pointed to a decline in foreign arrivals ahead of the holiday period. Domestic tourist visits, however, remain relatively stable.

The slowdown in foreign arrivals was confirmed by Bali Governor I Wayan Koster, who said daily foreign tourist numbers have been trending lower for several months.

“Foreign tourist arrivals on a daily basis have been slightly lower. This has been happening from September through December. At present, daily arrivals are around 12,000 to 16,000, compared with the usual level of about 20,000,” Koster said.

Bali’s tourism authority has attributed the lull to seasonal travel patterns rather than competition with other popular Southeast Asian destinations such as Thailand — the region’s top tourism market — or Vietnam, which has seen a surge in visitors this year.

Bali Tourism Agency head I Wayan Sumarajaya said the island experiences clear high and low seasons each year, with peak arrivals typically occurring between June and September. Visitor numbers usually ease in the following months before rising again toward the Christmas and New Year period.

“After the peak season, there is a natural decline, but it is not sharp and happens every year. Toward the year-end holidays, arrivals increase again,” Sumarajaya said on Monday.

He added that foreign tourist arrivals to Bali have already begun to recover, rising from about 17,000 visitors per day earlier in December to more than 20,000 per day since Dec. 14. Domestic tourism has also picked up since Dec. 19.

On an annual basis, Bali has recorded stronger performance than last year, with foreign tourist arrivals reaching 6.7 million so far in 2025, up from 6.3 million in the same period of 2024. The provincial government is targeting 7 million foreign arrivals by year-end.

Seasonal rainfall remains a concern, Sumarajaya said, adding that authorities have issued advisories to tourism operators to tighten safety procedures and clearly communicate do’s and don’ts to visitors during the wet season. Flooding in September killed 17 people, including a foreign national. Heavy rain earlier this month also claimed the life of a Russian woman who was swept away by strong currents after her motorcycle slipped.

Domestic Tourism Thrives

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia’s busiest aviation hub, recorded more than 1.18 million passengers and 7,811 aircraft movements between Dec. 15 and 21, according to operator Angkasa Pura Indonesia (InJourney).

Passenger traffic surged over the weekend, with nearly 175,000 travelers passing through the airport on Sunday alone. Airport authorities expect peak New Year traffic on Dec. 28, with close to 182,000 passengers and more than 1,100 flight movements. The return peak is forecast for Jan. 4.

The busiest domestic routes during the holiday period include Denpasar, Surabaya, Makassar, Medan’s Kualanamu and Palembang, while international traffic is dominated by flights to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, followed by Jeddah, Bangkok’s Don Mueang and Penang.

Airport management has urged passengers to arrive early, use online check-in services and remain alert to potential weather-related delays, as seasonal rain and extreme conditions could affect flight schedules.

Beyond air travel, popular destinations are already reporting heavy foot traffic. Malioboro, Yogyakarta’s main tourist strip, recorded more than 161,000 visitors in a single day on Dec. 20, with crowds undeterred by intermittent rain. Tourists flocked to shopping areas, culinary hotspots and traditional transport such as becak and horse-drawn carriages.

National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo said traffic flows linked to holiday travel remain within normal ranges so far, with vehicle movements in and out of Jakarta up about 21–22 percent from baseline levels. He said toll roads nationwide are operational, including routes previously affected by natural disasters.

Meanwhile, Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Luh Puspa urged heightened vigilance at tourist sites as Indonesia enters the peak holiday period amid warnings of heavy rainfall and potential cyclonic activity. She called on operators to inspect trees, improve evacuation signage and ensure visitors are familiar with emergency routes.

The government has also issued a nationwide tourism safety circular, reinforcing security, safety and health standards to ensure the year-end holiday season remains safe and orderly.

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