YOGYAKARTA – For travelers, one of the biggest deciding factors in choosing a destination is accessibility. The easier it is to reach a place, the more attractive it becomes. This is exactly what the Yogyakarta City Government is aiming for in 2025: to make the city more reachable for foreign tourists, particularly from China, by opening direct flight routes.
Deputy Mayor of Yogyakarta, Wawan Hermawan, revealed that discussions are already underway with major Chinese carriers. “Right now, we are initiating cooperation with Chinese airlines such as Hainan Airlines and Long Air to open direct flight routes from Yogyakarta,” Wawan said during a press briefing on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
The move comes after the city held the Business Matching Travel 2025 forum, a networking event connecting local tourism stakeholders with airlines and travel operators. For Yogyakarta, a city steeped in culture and history, direct connectivity could be the missing piece that transforms it from a side trip into a main destination.
Yogyakarta: Often Overshadowed by Bali
For years, foreign visitors especially from Asia have seen Bali as their primary Indonesian destination. Direct international flights into Denpasar make the island a convenient first stop. Yogyakarta, with its world-class heritage sites like Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple, often comes later in the itinerary, if at all.
Wawan hopes this will change. “Beyond non-stop flights from China to Yogyakarta, we hope tourists can directly make Yogyakarta their main destination before going to Bali,” he explained.
From a traveler’s perspective, this shift would be significant. Imagine landing at Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) and within a short drive, you’re surrounded by ancient temples, traditional batik workshops, and the artistic energy of Malioboro Street. No additional domestic flights, no long layovers—just instant immersion into Central Java’s rich cultural landscape.
The Numbers Behind the Dream
Airline negotiations are not simply about routes; they’re about sustainability. Emerson Lo Vun Zet, Director of Shintian Jaya Aviasi, who is helping facilitate the talks, highlighted key requirements.
“Direct flights can be sustainable if they are operated at least three times a week,” she said. Most carriers plan to use narrow-body aircraft with around 160 seats. That translates into almost 500 potential passengers per week traveling directly from China to Yogyakarta.
From the tourist’s angle, this is more than just a flight it’s an open door. Nearly 500 new arrivals weekly means more bustling cafes in Prawirotaman, fuller hotel lobbies near Malioboro, and livelier evening crowds at Ramayana Ballet performances under the shadow of Prambanan.
The economic impact is expected to ripple widely. Within two years, the additional spending from foreign visitors could be transformative for small businesses, artisans, and the hospitality sector.
Why Foreign Tourists Matter More
The Yogyakarta City Tourism Office has hard data backing this strategy. Foreign tourists not only stay longer but also spend significantly more than domestic travelers.
Head of the Tourism Office, Wahyu Hendratmoko, shared the numbers: “In 2024, the average spending of foreign tourists in Yogyakarta was recorded at around Rp 11 million per person. Domestic tourists, on the other hand, spent only about Rp 2.3 million.”
For a city known for its affordable yet diverse attractions, this spending gap is enormous. To put it in perspective, one group of international travelers can generate the same revenue as three or four groups of domestic visitors. For tourists, this also reflects a different kind of travel experience where boutique hotels, fine dining, and curated cultural tours become viable options.
Still, challenges remain. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Yogyakarta Special Region recorded a decline of 23.78 percent in visitor numbers from January to May 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This dip underlines the urgency for initiatives like direct flights to rekindle international interest.
Beyond Tourism: Pilgrimage Connections
Interestingly, the direct flight discussions are not limited to China. The city is also considering routes that would benefit religious pilgrims.
Currently, umrah pilgrims Muslims embarking on a pilgrimage to Mecca outside of the Hajj season must transit in Jakarta before flying to Jeddah. This adds not only time but also extra accommodation costs.
With potential cooperation involving Chinese carriers, a new route is being studied: Yogyakarta to Jeddah with a stopover in China. Such a scheme could significantly lower costs and make the journey more convenient for thousands of pilgrims in Yogyakarta and southern Central Java.
Wahyu pointed out that the market for Umrah travel is massive. “The potential of Umrah pilgrims from Yogyakarta and surrounding areas, including southern Central Java, is very large. The market could reach more than 20 million people per year,” he noted.
From a tourist’s perspective, this demonstrates the city’s ambition to position YIA not only as a tourism hub but also as a gateway for broader international mobility.
Yogyakarta Through a Tourist’s Eyes
For Chinese tourists considering Yogyakarta, what can they expect once they land?
The city offers a rare blend of heritage and modern comforts. You can spend a sunrise at Borobudur Temple, cycling through misty villages as the world’s largest Buddhist monument glows in gold. By midday, you might explore Kraton Yogyakarta, the royal palace still home to the Sultan, and enjoy a serving of gudeg, the city’s iconic jackfruit dish. In the evening, a walk along Malioboro Street provides shopping, street food, and live performances all within a few kilometers of each other.
Adventure seekers can head to Mount Merapi for jeep tours across volcanic terrain or journey to the caves and beaches of Gunungkidul. For art lovers, the city hosts ArtJog, one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic contemporary art festivals, attracting global attention each year.
Direct flights would make all of these experiences immediately accessible. Tourists wouldn’t need to spend precious hours transiting through Bali or Jakarta. Instead, Yogyakarta itself becomes the opening chapter of their Indonesian journey.
A Turning Point for Yogyakarta Tourism
The plan for direct flights is more than a logistical upgrade it’s a statement of intent. Yogyakarta wants to stand shoulder to shoulder with Bali as a premier destination, not just an optional side trip.
For travelers, this means more choices and less hassle. For locals, it promises economic growth, more jobs in the tourism sector, and greater international exposure. For airlines, it’s a chance to tap into an emerging route with untapped potential.
The year 2025 may well be remembered as a turning point when Yogyakarta opened its skies wider, welcoming the world directly into its cultural heart. If the negotiations succeed, foreign tourists landing in YIA will no longer be “passing through.” They’ll be arriving at a destination that has always been ready to enchant them just waiting for the runway to clear.
