Several regions in Indonesia have banned school-organized study tours, particularly for trips outside the city. These aim to minimize the risk of accidents during travel and, importantly, to ease the financial burden on parents. Regions implementing such policies include Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, and Pontianak.
This situation is further exacerbated by Presidential Instruction No. 1 of 2025, which mandates budget efficiency, including the limitation of study tours and educational excursions by government agencies and schools.
The policy has been seen by many as counterproductive to the spirit of tourism-based economic development.
Dr. Destha Titi Raharjana, a researcher at the Center for Tourism Studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Puspar UGM), stated that this restriction has had a notable impact on tourism industry players.
He emphasized the need for local governments to take strategic mitigation steps before issuing such regulations.
“The impact is deeply felt across sectors, from transportation and accommodation to culinary services and souvenir sales. Even hotel occupancy rates have dropped significantly,” said Dr. Raharjana on Tuesday, Jun. 3, 2025.
National data shows that West Java was one of the provinces with the highest domestic tourist movement in 2024, with approximately 180.59 million recorded trips.
A recent survey by the Desa Wisata Institute and ATOURIN (2025) also found that tourists from West Java accounted for 17.6% of all visits to rural tourism destinations.
In response to the ban, Dr. Raharjana believes that tourism industry players must now be more creative.
“In places like Yogyakarta, I think there’s still a huge opportunity, especially in the educational tourism sector. It’s just a matter of responding wisely,” he noted.
With this policy, Dr. Raharjana encouraged the tourism sector to remain optimistic and adaptive.
He suggested that industry stakeholders should explore untapped markets beyond West Java, particularly by targeting niche interest-based tourist groups.
He also recommended that Yogyakarta, as a leading tourist destination, engage in rebranding efforts aimed at other regions through thematic promotions, travel dialogues, and familiarization trips.
In addition, he emphasized the importance of organizing weekday events and attractions, not just during weekends.
“We need to encourage the involvement of local artists in curating high-quality events that can be incorporated into tourism packages, especially during the low season,” he added.
According to Dr. Raharjana, student study tour groups play a significant role in supporting the tourism economy.
The high enthusiasm for group travel among school-aged students has a direct and positive impact on local micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), particularly those in the food, beverage, and souvenir sectors.
Still, the tourism industry must continue to innovate and offer new packages to attract tourists.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photograph: Berwisata