Economic Activity Moves with Experiential, Tourism as Suite Class Compartment Passengers Grow 47.8 Percent
PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) recorded significant growth in its Suite Class Compartment service throughout 2025, as part of the national economic movement increasingly driven by tourism and the experience-based economy. The number of passengers increased from 28,496 in 2024 to 42,118 in 2025, representing annual growth of 47.8 percent. This achievement reflects a shift in people’s travel patterns, where journeys are no longer simply about moving from one city to another, but have become part of a value-added tourism experience.
This growth is in line with the Government’s policy direction to encourage economic recovery by increasing public mobility, strengthening the tourism sector, and creating economic value across various regions. Comfortable and premium travel services encourage people to travel farther, stay longer, and spend more at their destinations, allowing the multiplier effect of economic activity to be felt more broadly.
The positive performance of the Suite Class Compartment service is also reflected in its monthly figures throughout 2025. July recorded the highest number of passengers, with 5,157 passengers, driven by the school holiday period and mid-year vacation season. Meanwhile, December 2025 recorded 4,906 passengers, the second-highest figure of the year, in line with high public mobility during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. This pattern shows that experience-based tourism is increasingly becoming a preferred choice during peak travel periods.
During the Christmas and New Year transportation period (Nataru), from December 18, 2025 to January 1, 2026, the Suite Class Compartment served 2,597 passengers over 15 days. This figure further strengthens the trend that people view train travel as an integral part of their holiday experience, rather than merely as a means of transportation.
KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba said that the growth in passengers using this service reflects the transformation of the railway’s role in supporting the national economy.
“The Suite Class Compartment is designed to provide a more personal, peaceful, and high-quality travel experience. The growth in passengers shows that travel has now become part of the tourism experience, which ultimately drives economic activity in destination areas,” said Anne.
The increase in passengers using this service also contributes to strengthening local economies around stations and destination areas. Comfortable mobility encourages more visits from families and long-distance travelers, benefiting the tourism, hospitality, culinary, onward transportation, and MSME sectors. Longer-distance journeys with extended travel durations also allow tourists to stay and spend more time at their destinations, enabling the economic benefits to be distributed more evenly.
The Suite Class Compartment was first inaugurated on October 10, 2023, at Gambir Station and was designed with 16 private compartments in one train car. Each compartment is equipped with an automatic sliding door, a seat that reclines up to 180 degrees, massage and seat-heating features, the Train Onboard Infotainment System, and full meal services. These facilities create a comprehensive and memorable travel experience, in line with the concept of experience-based tourism, which is becoming increasingly popular.
Currently, the Suite Class Compartment operates on the Bima train serving the Gambir–Surabaya Gubeng round-trip route, the Argo Semeru train serving the Gambir–Surabaya Gubeng round-trip route, and the Argo Bromo Anggrek train serving the Gambir–Surabaya Pasar Turi round-trip route.
“Through this service, KAI is committed to providing railway journeys that are increasingly relevant to the needs of the public, while supporting the national economic recovery agenda by strengthening mobility, tourism, and regional economies,” Anne concluded.
VP Corporate Communication KAI