Manado. Indonesia has reopened direct flights between Taiwan and Manado, as 134 Taiwanese tourists arrived in North Sulawesi on Saturday afternoon following a 3-hour-45-minute journey — marking the route’s return after several years of suspension.

The inaugural flight was welcomed by North Sulawesi Governor Yulius Selvanus and officials from the Tourism Ministry at Sam Ratulangi International Airport.

The Airbus A320 operated by TransNusa received a ceremonial water-cannon salute upon arrival.

Deputy for Tourism Business Development Vincensius Jemadu said the reopening could position Manado as a major gateway for eastern Indonesia, alongside Bali.

“We hope North Sulawesi can become a tourism hub in eastern Indonesia. After Bali, Manado has the potential to be one of the main entry points,” Vincensius said.

He added that launching international routes requires careful commercial assessment by airlines, particularly on cost and profitability, and stressed the importance of continued support from both central and regional governments to ensure sustainability.

Beyond tourism, Vincensius said the route also opens opportunities for broader economic cooperation.

“Taiwanese consumers have a high demand for fish. This creates strong potential for direct seafood exports — especially tuna — from this province to Taiwan,” he said.

Governor Yulius pledged that the Manado–Taipei service would operate regularly.

“Thank God, after a long process, today we launched direct flights from Taipei — and this is not a one-off. Going forward, we will receive flights every five days. We will prepare everything properly,” he said.

The route’s revival is supported by TransNusa and travel agency Coco’s Travel.

“This flight has been in the works for a long time because Taiwan is a highly promising market. With direct service now available, access is much easier and faster for tourists,” said Coco’s Travel owner Lentono.

He also urged local residents to help preserve North Sulawesi’s image by welcoming international visitors.

“I invite everyone to be good hosts to foreign tourists,” he said.

Flights from Manado depart Sam Ratulangi International Airport at 9 a.m. and arrive in Taipei at 1 p.m. local time, while return flights leave Taoyuan International Airport at 2 p.m. and land in Manado at 6 p.m. Manado and Taiwan share the same time zone.

According to Tourism Ministry data, arrivals from Taiwan to Indonesia totaled 204,704 visits in 2025, up 11.65% year-on-year.