In a move to boost tourism between Singapore and Indonesia, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has partnered with Garuda Indonesia and Changi Airport Group (CAG) to enhance connectivity and promote travel between the two nations.
Elevating Connectivity and Tourism Offerings
Naufal Aflah, corporate and channel group head at Garuda Indonesia, emphasized the airline’s commitment to providing excellent service to customers traveling between Indonesia and Singapore. “Garuda has formed a cooperation agreement in the areas of targeted campaigns, joint marketing efforts, and new travel offerings, such as fly-cruise packages for Singapore,” he said.
The Memorandum of Cooperation signing ceremony in Jakarta was led by (from left) Singapore Tourism board’s Terrence Voon, Singapore ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia Kwok Fook Seng, Garuda Indonesia’s Naufal Aflah, and Changi Airport Group’s Peh Ke-Wei.
Ade R Susardi, commercial director of Garuda Indonesia, added that the partnership reflects a “shared commitment to revitalising regional travel and fostering stronger tourism and cultural ties between the two neighbouring nations.” The collaboration is expected to entice international tourists to explore Indonesia’s many destinations by connecting through Singapore Changi Airport and utilizing Garuda Indonesia’s extensive domestic networks.
Strengthening Connectivity and Tourism Growth
Garuda Indonesia currently operates 55 weekly flights between Singapore and Indonesia, including 41 weekly flights on the Jakarta-Singapore route alone, with two daily flights added in December 2024. The airline also flies daily to Bali and Surabaya.
Terrence Voon, executive director of Southeast Asia with STB, noted that this collaboration comes at the “best time possible,” as both Singapore and Indonesia continue to be important source markets for each other in tourism. Indonesia was Singapore’s second-largest tourism market, contributing 2.49 million arrivals in 2024, while Singapore was the third-largest tourism market for Indonesia with 1.4 million arrivals last year.
Voon added, “Indonesia is poised to continue growing in 2025. This inaugural tripartite partnership reflects the importance of tourism and air connectivity between our two countries, and our commitment to work together for mutual benefit. By combining our strengths, we hope more Indonesian travelers can enjoy Singapore’s diverse offerings and create meaningful experiences with their loved ones.”
Peh Ke-Wei, vice president of market development at CAG, noted that Indonesia is one of the company’s top passenger markets, with more than 7.3 million passenger movements between Singapore and Indonesia registered in 2024.
