Year-End Holidays: ASITA Reveals Favorite Destinations, Tourist Villages Serve as Alternative Options

Bali and Yogyakarta remain firmly established on end-of-year holiday travel maps. However, Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027 are positioned to offer far more diverse travel options. The Indonesian Tour Operators Association (ASITA) identifies this Year-End Holiday period as an opportunity for travellers to explore Alternative Destinations, including community-run tourism villages.

ASITA Chairperson Rusmiati estimates that established popular destinations will still act as major visitor magnets. Bali, Yogyakarta and Bandung are projected to receive high visitor volumes. Meanwhile, domestic travellers typically choose Puncak and Bogor, Malang, along with several cities across Central and East Java.

"Meanwhile the Puncak and Bogor areas, plus Malang and a number of cities across Central and East Java are standard preferred destinations for domestic holidaymakers," stated Rusmiati.

For International Visitors, Bali, Yogyakarta and Labuan Bajo remain core priority destinations. These three locations each offer distinct appeal, spanning cultural and heritage tourism, natural landscapes, and coastal marine activities.

Even so, Rusmiati noted that this year's end-of-year travel patterns are not finalised. Less mainstream destinations have clear opportunity to gain visitor attention, particularly as travellers begin seeking new experiences outside conventional busy holiday routes.

"We encourage the public to explore the full range of destinations across Indonesia, matched to their personal interests and individual travel circumstances," she added.

From Cultural Heritage to Coastal Marine Experiences

Yogyakarta is the destination of choice for travellers seeking to combine historical sightseeing, cultural immersion and Culinary Tourism. Beyond its temple complexes and royal palace precincts, this city offers authentic experiences sampling regional speciality food, visiting traditional markets, and engaging with the living arts culture of local communities.

For nature and ocean enthusiasts, Labuan Bajo delivers a distinct experience through its archipelago scenery, marine tourism activities and surrounding wild ecosystems. Meanwhile, the Lake Toba region in North Sumatra presents panoramic views of the volcanic crater lake, paired with the living traditions and culture of the Batak people.

Away from well-known tourist hotspots, tourism villages also offer compelling value: visitors can connect directly with local daily life, sample regional cuisine, and observe traditional craft production and local cultural practices first-hand.

The range of accessible tourism villages has also expanded significantly. 2026 data from the Ministry of Tourism records that over 6,300 tourism villages are now registered on the National Tourism Village Network (Jadesta) platform.

These community-led destinations provide a fundamentally different experience compared to mass tourism zones. Travellers may stay with local host families, participate in cultural activities, enjoy fresh local farm produce, and learn traditional handicraft techniques.

The economic impact of this sector is already becoming measurable. Ministry of Tourism monitoring across 66 pilot tourism villages recorded that village tourism revenue rose 29.62%, increasing from IDR 46.05 billion in 2024 to IDR 59.70 billion in 2025.

Over the same period, Domestic Visitor Arrivals to these tourism villages increased by 45.17%, reaching approximately 2.25 million individual trips.

This data confirms that visits to tourism villages do not only deliver unique experiences for guests. Tourism activity in these areas also circulates income directly to local management teams, homestay owners, tour guides, craft artisans and local food operators.

Factor The Rainy Season Into Travel Planning

Alongside growing travel opportunities this holiday period, visitors must also account for weather conditions. The year-end holiday window falls as most regions of Indonesia enter the monsoon period. The national Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecasts that peak 2026/2027 monsoon rainfall across most areas will occur between December 2026 and February 2027.

These conditions require special consideration for travellers planning Outdoor Activities. Trips to mountain regions, trekking routes, marine tourism sites and other open-air activities should always be aligned with official weather updates and safety guidance issued by destination management teams.

"As this Christmas and New Year holiday period coincides with the rainy season across many regions, travellers should adjust their planned activities accordingly. All outdoor activities must take into account official weather information and safety recommendations from local destination authorities," advised Rusmiati.

Travellers are also recommended to prepare backup itineraries in case rainfall disrupts original plans. Museums, culinary districts, creative hubs, cultural performances and indoor activities all provide viable alternatives, without requiring cancellation of the entire trip.

Rusmiati also reminded travellers to book tickets, accommodation and tour packages well in advance. Before selecting a travel agent, visitors should always confirm full details of included facilities, schedules, pricing and cancellation policies.

"Just as importantly, remain flexible regarding schedule changes, and always follow instructions from tour guides and local on-site staff. We want everyone to enjoy a safe, comfortable holiday, while acting responsibly towards the environment and local communities at every destination they visit," she stated.

With the wide range of travel options now available, end-of-year holidays no longer need to be limited exclusively to crowded mass tourism destinations. Visiting tourism villages or lesser-known alternative locations is a meaningful way to gain new travel experiences, while also directly supporting the livelihoods of local communities.