Shenzhen-Jakarta Route Reopened, An Increase in Chinese Tourist Arrivals Is Expected

The resumption of the Direct Flight Shenzhen-Jakarta route has opened new opportunities for Indonesia's tourism sector amid rising visitor arrivals from China. The Ministry of Tourism expects that restarting this Shenzhen Airlines route will strengthen air connectivity while driving growth in International Visitor arrivals.

Ni Made Ayu Marthini, Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism, stated that accessible direct flights are one of the core factors enabling tourists to travel to Indonesia. This route resumption is expected to support sustained, long-term growth in visitor numbers.

“The return and reactivation of this flight service is a proactive step to accommodate the rising volume of international tourist arrivals. We hope this restored route will continue to draw even more international visitors to Indonesia on an ongoing basis,” stated Ni Made in an official release issued in Jakarta on Wednesday.

This outlook aligns with positive trends in the Chinese travel market. The Ministry of Tourism recorded 1,054,007 arrivals from China to Indonesia between January and August 2026. This figure marks a 16.46% increase compared to the same period the previous year, which registered 905,002 arrivals.

The direct Shenzhen-Jakarta route resumed operations with its inaugural landing at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday 20 October. The return of this route adds extra travel options for Chinese tourists planning visits to Indonesia.

The Ministry of Tourism confirms air connectivity plays a strategic role in expanding access to Indonesian Tourist Destinations. Beyond simplifying travel logistics, direct flights are also recognised to boost the global competitiveness of Indonesia's national tourism industry.

Yulia, Assistant Deputy for International Tourism Marketing II at the Ministry of Tourism, noted that Jakarta ranks alongside Bali as one of the primary entry points for Chinese tourists entering Indonesia. 

With the Shenzhen-Jakarta route now operational again, tourists are expected to gain more flexible options to reach destinations across the country.

This restored route also enables travellers to use Jakarta as an initial arrival hub before continuing their journeys to other regions of Indonesia. 

This direct air connection is also expected to make travel planning to Indonesia significantly simpler for overseas visitors.

Shenzhen Airlines operates this route using 162-seat aircraft. Flight ZH161 departs Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport at 20:55 local time on Monday 19 October, arriving at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 00:55 WIB on Tuesday.

For the return leg, flight ZH162 from Jakarta to Shenzhen is scheduled to depart at 01:55 WIB and land at 08:05 local time. This timetable provides convenient direct travel options for passengers based in both cities.

The Shenzhen-Jakarta service runs 3 times weekly, operating every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Meanwhile, return flights departing Jakarta are scheduled for early morning departures every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Beyond supporting tourist mobility, improved air connectivity carries positive spillover benefits across the entire Tourism Ecosystem. Hotels, transport providers, travel agencies, and all supporting tourism service businesses stand to gain from increased visitor inflow.

Yulia assessed that the current momentum of growing Chinese tourist arrivals must be fully leveraged to strengthen Indonesia's tourism marketing efforts. Improved air connectivity will act as a key enabling factor to attract more international visitors.

“This is a strategic opportunity we will capitalise on to maximise this positive momentum, and drive further international visitor growth going forward,” Yulia concluded.