Indonesian travellers are suffering from FOMO – the Fear of Missing Out – and social media platforms such as Instagram Reels and TikTok are fuelling the fear by showcasing the hidden gems of overseas destinations.

According to travel agents at the Astindo Travel Fair 2024, China is still a sought after destinations by Indonesians.

Nelly Horman, marketing executive at Panorama Tours and Travels, said Japan used to be the top of the bucket list for Indonesians travellers but now some Indonesians were less comfortable with the destination due to over tourism.

“For China, it is booming again. Many visitors are seeking further information about destinations they only know from social media, ” Horman said.

Cities like Chongqing and Wuhan are in demand, along with major cities Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou.

“I just closed [a sale] with customers who are interested in going to Chongqing after seeing it virtually. They said it looks more beautiful than Las Vegas,” Horman added.

Many Indonesian travellers enjoy both the natural scenery and grandeur of cities. They love moving around and therefore convenient public transportation is a must-have in countries they visit.

“China is one of them,” said Pauline Suharno, chairman of Astindo (the Indonesian Travel Agents Association).

Travelling to China is also less complicated, especially when it comes to visas, and generally it is cheaper than travelling to Europe..

“Getting a Schengen visa to travel to Europe is quite challenging,” said Edo, head of marketing at Panorama.

Vietnam, on the rise

Interest by Indonesian citizens in travelling to Vietnam is increasing too, as it is also considered an affordable destination.

There have been reports of a significant increase in the purchase of air tickets to Vietnam in 2023, up 128% from 2022. Hanoi, Danang, and Hoi An are among the favourite destinations among tiket.com users.

Tourism authorities in Vietnam have been quick to respond to the trend. Danang Tourism Association recently invited 40 delegates from Astindo for a famil trip as Vietnam eyes opening direct flights to Indonesia.

Among reasons why many Indonesians are interested in travelling to the land of Blue Dragon are its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and diverse cuisine. Vietnam also offers relatively good transportation and friendly accommodation options.