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| Banyuwangi expects more tourists as its Jakarta-Banyuwangi direct flight route is ready to operate in 2017. (JP/Wahyoe Boediwardhana) |
Garuda's new route is hoped to be able to increase the number of tourist visits to the eastern side of Java Island and make it easier for people who live around Banyuwangi such as Situbondo, Jember, Bondowoso and West Bali to travel to Jakarta.
Banyuwangi itself is a booming market. According to the data by East Java Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Banyuwangi takes the third spot for investment realization in East Java.
In 2016, 60,000 overseas tourists and two million local tourists visited Banyuwangi.
“The availability of Jakarta – Banyuwangi route will increase tourism, business, and people’s mobility to be faster in order to improve the local economy,” said tourism minister Arief Yahya.
“With the new route, passengers don’t have to make a transit in Surabaya anymore,” told Garuda Indonesia president director Pahala N. Mansury.
Meanwhile, the Surabaya – Banyuwangi route has been improving quite well, “Even though there are two lights serving the Surabaya – Banyuwangi route every day, the average occupancy rate is at 80 percent,” added Pahala. (JakartaPost)