KAI Records 2.55 Million Passenger Activities Across Three UNESCO Global Geopark Destinations

Train travel offers an opportunity to explore Indonesia’s natural and cultural heritage, including destinations within the UNESCO Global Geoparks network. In Sukabumi, Kebumen, and Banyuwangi, railway passenger activity grew from January to September 2026, with each region offering distinctive geological landscapes and cultural experiences.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero), or KAI, recorded 2,553,523 passenger boarding and alighting activities at Sukabumi, Kebumen, and Banyuwangi Kota Stations from January to September 2026. This represented a 6.61% increase from 2,395,115 activities in the same period in 2025, an addition of 158,408 activities.

KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba explained that train travel gives people an opportunity to discover Indonesia, from its cities to destinations with diverse natural and cultural characteristics. Journeys to Sukabumi, Kebumen, and Banyuwangi can be a starting point for exploring mountains, coastlines, ancient rock formations, volcanic landscapes, and the cultures of communities that have developed alongside their surroundings.

The three regions are home to areas included in the UNESCO Global Geoparks network. Ciletuh–Palabuhanratu UNESCO Global Geopark is located in Sukabumi, Kebumen UNESCO Global Geopark is in Central Java, and Ijen UNESCO Global Geopark spans Banyuwangi and Bondowoso. These destinations can be reached by train, followed by land transportation to the respective tourist areas.

Among the three stations, Sukabumi Station recorded the highest passenger activity, with 1,209,381 activities from January to September 2026. This comprised 613,678 boardings and 595,703 alightings, up 6.11% from 1,139,780 activities in the same period the previous year.

Sukabumi Regency is home to Ciletuh–Palabuhanratu UNESCO Global Geopark, which joined the UNESCO Global Geoparks network in 2018. The area is known for its combination of coastal landscapes, hills, waterfalls, rock formations, and communities along the southern coast of West Java.

Meanwhile, Kebumen Station recorded 558,571 passenger activities, comprising 282,220 boardings and 276,351 alightings. This was a 9.10% increase from 511,993 activities in January–September 2025, making it the fastest-growing station among the three.

Kebumen received UNESCO Global Geopark recognition in 2025. One of its defining geological features is the Karangsambung area, which preserves evidence of ancient geological formations, including rocks originating from the ocean floor and the margins of an ancient continent. Kebumen also features caves, underground rivers, southern coastlines, and community activities that form part of the geopark landscape.

Further east in East Java, Banyuwangi Kota Station recorded 785,571 passenger activities from January to September 2026. This consisted of 386,626 boardings and 398,945 alightings, representing a 5.68% increase from 743,342 activities in the same period last year.

Banyuwangi is part of the Ijen UNESCO Global Geopark, which also spans Bondowoso Regency. The area joined the UNESCO Global Geoparks network in 2023. Its landscape is shaped by the Ijen volcanic complex, featuring a crater, mountains, and plantation areas. Banyuwangi’s local traditions also contribute to the visitor experience.

Travel to destinations rich in natural and cultural attractions is taking place amid growth in national tourism. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded 104.30 million domestic tourist trips in August 2026, an 11.47% increase from August 2025. In the same month, Indonesia welcomed 1.60 million international tourist arrivals, up 6.27% year-on-year.

Anne emphasized that station activity figures cover all passenger travel needs and therefore should not be interpreted as the number of geopark visitors. Nevertheless, the data provides an overview of mobility to areas offering natural attractions, culture, culinary experiences, education, and tourism.

According to Anne, discovering Indonesia can begin with the journey itself. Sukabumi, Kebumen, and Banyuwangi each have distinct characteristics, yet all three offer opportunities to experience the connections between nature, geological history, culture, and community life.