Forest fires and haze disrupt tourism operations across Indonesia

Forest fires and haze in parts of Indonesia are disrupting tourism operations, causing flight disruptions and trip cancellations, while tour operators adjust itineraries to accommodate affected travellers.

According to Ministry of Transportation data as of October 19, forest fires had affected 2,604 domestic flights, with 1,129 delayed, 1,420 cancelled or postponed, 23 diverted to other airports, six returning to their departure airports and 26 having their departure times brought forward.

A further 14 international flights were affected, including 12 on the Singapore-Pontianak route and two on the Singapore-Palembang route. Affected airports included Iskandar Airport in Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan; Supadio International Airport in Pontianak, West Kalimantan; Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport in Pekanbaru, Riau; Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport in Palembang, South Sumatra; and Domine Eduard Osok Airport in Sorong, Southwest Papua.

Ricky Setiawanto, director of Panorama Destination, said worsening haze had affected Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan, prompting two groups to cancel their trips this week.

“Tanjung Puting is a major draw for wildlife enthusiasts, especially from Europe – many of whom travel specifically to see the orangutans. If the haze continues to worsen, visitors may not be able to see the orangutans, which could affect their decision to travel,” he said.

Ricky added that Kalimantan accounted for only a small part of most tour packages, with Tanjung Puting being the main attraction in the region. Visitors not travelling specifically to see orangutans could still visit other destinations on their itineraries.

Overseas partners had also sought information on the haze and the government’s response to assess the situation ahead of upcoming trips, he said.

Local operators in Kalimantan have been particularly affected. Joko Purwanto, director of Trans Borneo Adventure in East Kalimantan, said all bookings scheduled over the past seven days had been cancelled after flights stopped operating, many at short notice. Bookings through December remained unaffected, although he was uncertain how the situation would develop if the fires continued.

Classic Tours Lombok, which operates across Indonesia, has also seen cancellations. Its travel consultant, Lalu Nawasier Tralala, said he was redirecting groups originally booked for Kalimantan and Sumatra to Flores and Sulawesi, particularly travellers already in Indonesia, to avoid cancellations and refunds.

“Some travellers are willing to change their plans and visit other destinations, but for those coming specifically to see Kalimantan wildlife, it is much harder to offer an alternative,” he said.

In Batam, Pauline Suharno, president of the Association of the Indonesian Travel Agents, said members had reported cancellations among Singaporean and Malaysian tour groups due to concerns over the haze.

Concerns have also affected trips to destinations not directly impacted by the fires. Adjie Wahono, operations manager of Aneka Kartika Tours and Travel Services, said two Singaporean student groups of 60 each had cancelled trips to Jakarta scheduled for the end of October.

“Hotel rooms and other arrangements were already in place, but the schools and parents decided not to let the students travel. The cancellations have cost us quite a lot,” he said.

Another student group due in November was still considering whether to proceed, with indoor activities being discussed as an alternative to outdoor tours.

“We also have a group from Germany coming to visit Indonesia next month, and they are requesting written assurances about safety and air pollution, as well as alternative arrangements following an air pollution warning from German authorities,” he said.

The hospitality industry is also affected. Hariyadi Sukamdani, chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association, said hotels in Sumatra and Kalimantan were seeing lower occupancy and more cancellations, while those in other destinations remained unaffected.

“Natural disasters are something people can understand, but prolonged forest fires create a negative image. People may start to see the whole country as an uncomfortable destination,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Raja Juli Antoni, minister of forestry, said the government was working to contain the fires through aerial and ground operations, including weather modification, the use of dry ice to support cloud formation and helicopter water bombing. Ground crews comprised military personnel, police, firefighters and volunteers.

“Every effort is being made, including strengthening ground teams,” Raja Juli said.