Foreign Tourists Increasingly Choose Trains, KAI Records 498,000 Customers Through August 2026

The growth of the national tourism sector has driven increasing demand for connectivity between regions. Railways have become one of the modes of transportation supporting tourists in reaching various destinations across Indonesia.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) recorded 498,232 foreign tourists using railway services throughout January–August 2026. This figure increased by 3.83% compared to the same period in 2025, when 479,861 foreign tourists used railway services, representing an increase of 18,371 customers.

This growth continues the upward trend in railway usage among foreign tourists over the past five years. During January–August 2022, the number of foreign tourists using railway services was recorded at 170,094 customers, increasing to 383,732 customers in 2023, 447,655 customers in 2024, 479,861 customers in 2025, and reaching 498,232 customers in 2026.

KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba said the growth in foreign tourist customers demonstrates the increasingly important role of transportation connectivity in supporting tourism travel in Indonesia.

“Railways connect various cities with diverse destination characteristics, ranging from cultural areas and natural attractions to economic centers. KAI continues to maintain service quality so that foreign tourists can enjoy more comfortable journeys and have positive experiences during their time in Indonesia,” said Anne.

Based on KAI data, several stations have become the main choices for foreign tourists as departure points to various destinations. Yogyakarta Station was the most popular departure station, recording the highest number of foreign tourist customers throughout January–August 2026.

Top 10 favorite departure stations among foreign tourists, January–August 2026:

1. Yogyakarta: 93,189 foreign tourists
2. Gambir: 84,011 foreign tourists
3. Bandung: 45,400 foreign tourists
4. Pasar Senen: 25,080 foreign tourists
5. Surabaya Gubeng: 24,543 foreign tourists
6. Semarang Tawang Bank Jateng: 18,032 foreign tourists
7. Malang: 17,391 foreign tourists
8. Probolinggo: 12,148 foreign tourists
9. Surabaya Pasar Turi: 11,491 foreign tourists
10. Solo Balapan: 10,158 foreign tourists

In terms of monthly developments, the increase in foreign tourist travel by rail was particularly visible during the middle of the year. July 2026 recorded the highest volume, reaching 96,940 foreign tourists, followed by August with 92,418 customers and June with 67,290 customers.

This trend is in line with developments in tourism travel in Indonesia. Based on data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the number of foreign tourist visits to Indonesia from January–July 2026 reached 9.09 million visits, an increase compared to the same period in the previous year. This development indicates increasingly strong international travel activity to Indonesia as well as growing demand for connectivity between regions.

Anne added that railways play a strategic role in supporting the tourism travel chain, as many of Indonesia’s leading destinations are located in areas connected by the railway network.

“The growth in foreign tourists presents an opportunity for the entire transportation ecosystem to provide increasingly integrated travel experiences. KAI continues to strengthen its services so that railways can become part of tourists’ journeys as they discover more destinations across Indonesia,” said Anne.

Through its travel network connecting various cities across Java and several other regions, KAI continues to strengthen the role of railways as a connector for the mobility of both the public and tourists. The growth in foreign tourist customers is one indicator that railway services are increasingly playing an important role in supporting national tourism connectivity.

VP Corporate Communication KAI