Amid the economic turmoil of the Indonesian government and the high-speed train service provider Whoosh, the service remains the choice of international tourists to travel from Jakarta to Bandung.
According to a report by Antara News, thousands of Malaysians were recorded using the Whoosh service during the recent school holiday season. Almost 53% of international passengers were reported to be Malaysians, making Malaysians among the main contributors to this service.
Since it began operating in 2023, the number of Malaysians using the Whoosh service has reached about 294,000 passengers, reflecting the increasing demand from tourists from Malaysia.
Indonesia continues to remain a preferred destination for Malaysian tourists due to its lower holiday costs, driven by a favorable currency exchange rate. With the Ringgit having higher purchasing power compared to the Rupiah, spending on accommodation, food and transportation in Jakarta and tourist cities in Indonesia is seen as more economical than many other regional destinations.
Save 2 Hours 15 Minutes With Whoosh
One of the main factors that makes Whoosh a choice is the significant travel time savings. The journey from Jakarta to Bandung using this high-speed train only takes around 45 minutes, compared to 3 hours via highway, depending on traffic conditions.
This time difference makes Bandung a suitable destination for the short getaway concept, especially for Malaysian tourists who want to maximize their short vacation time.
Since 2019, the Indonesian Government has begun transferring commercial flight operations from Husein Sastranegara to Kertajati Airport (Majalengka). This airport, which is located 3 hours away from the city of Bandung, has caused demand to decrease.
Airlines prioritize the Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta route, which is more profitable for them. After the Covid-19 pandemic, Jakarta remains the sole gateway to Bandung.
Despite Whoosh's popularity among tourists, the project itself is still facing financial pressure. The construction cost of this project reached $7.3 billion USD and the financing of this project is reported to be a burden on the fiscal position of its operating company, KCIC and the Indonesian government.
These two identities still need to cover the operation and payment of the project's debt with Chinese financial institutions. Despite these challenges, the reality is that Whoosh remains the first choice of Malaysians every time they visit Bandung-Jakarta.
