Yogyakarta is quietly gaining momentum on the global travel map. The shift is gradual, but the numbers tell a clear story. International visitors are starting to pay closer attention, and official data backs it up.
The Central Statistics Agency of the Special Region of Yogyakarta recorded a rise in foreign tourist arrivals to the region. According to Senior Statistician at BPS DIY, Sentot Bangun Widoyono, a total of 8,017 foreign tourist visits entered Indonesia through Yogyakarta International Airport in December 2025.
That figure marked a 0.15 percent increase compared to November 2025 on a month to month basis. Compared to December 2024, the growth was far stronger, reaching 11.86 percent year on year.
“This achievement shows an improvement in the flow of foreign tourist visits at the end of 2025,” he said in a written statement on Monday (2/2/2026).
Despite the positive December performance, the broader annual picture was more restrained. Cumulatively, foreign tourist arrivals through YIA from January to December 2025 fell by 0.94 percent compared to the same period in 2024. Sentot explained that this indicates overall foreign tourist performance throughout 2025 remained under pressure, even with the late year rebound.
While international arrivals showed mixed results, domestic tourism told a different story. Travel by Indonesian tourists to Yogyakarta surged during the year end period. In December 2025 alone, domestic tourist trips to the region reached 3.87 million.
This represented a sharp 24.43 percent increase from November 2025 on a month to month basis. Compared with December 2024, trips also rose by 3.54 percent year on year. The rise reflects stronger domestic travel activity during the year end holidays.
“Domestic tourists are Indonesian citizens who travel outside their daily environment but remain within the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. The trips are not carried out routinely and are not intended to earn wages or salaries at the destination,” he said.
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Travel patterns further highlight Yogyakarta’s pull as a national destination. In December 2025, trips within the province totaled 1.48 million, accounting for 38.15 percent of all domestic travel. Interprovincial trips were higher, reaching 2.39 million journeys or 61.85 percent. The dominance of interprovincial travel underlines Yogyakarta’s strong appeal beyond its borders.
Over the full year, domestic tourism continued to build momentum. From January to December 2025, domestic tourist trips to DIY reached 40.59 million. This marked a 6.74 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024 on a cumulative to cumulative basis. The growth confirms domestic tourism as the main driver of the region’s tourism sector throughout 2025.
The increase was evenly spread across the region. All regencies and cities in DIY recorded monthly growth in domestic tourist trips in December 2025. “Sleman Regency recorded the highest increase, with domestic tourist trips growing by 28.51 percent compared to November 2025,” he explained.
Rising tourist mobility also translated into stronger accommodation demand. Hotel room occupancy rates in Yogyakarta increased in December 2025 compared to the previous month, both in star rated and non star hotels. The higher occupancy reflects stronger demand during the year end holidays and aligns with the surge in domestic travel and the gradual improvement in foreign tourist arrivals.
