Anak Krakatau Eruption Disrupts Jogja Tourism, 40% Flight Bookings Cancelled

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau in Sunda Strait disrupted flights in several areas and also affected tourists traveling to Yogyakarta. Volcanic ash has forced air travel to be adjusted according to safety conditions and operational changes at affected airports.

Chairperson of the Yogyakarta Provincial Executive Board of the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (DPP GIPI), Bobby Ardyanto, said the disruption had affected several areas of the tourism sector. Foreign tourists from Europe and Asia generally transit at Cengkareng before continuing their journey to Yogyakarta.

“Foreign tourists usually transit in Cengkareng before continuing their journey to Jogja. This has caused inconvenience for tourists who are already at the airport, as the information provided has also been insufficiently clear,” he said on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

The flight changes have forced tourists to adjust their travel routes and transit airports. The situation has subsequently affected the operations of various tourism-sector businesses in Yogyakarta and several other areas.

Bobby said the flight changes had also affected tourists’ travel bookings in recent days. Around 30 to 40 percent of bookings had been modified due to cancellations or the rescheduling of tourist trips.

“The impact on bookings is around 30 to 40 percent. Some have canceled, while others have rescheduled. This is the impact being felt on the ground, including by our colleagues in the hotel, travel agency, and transportation sectors,” he said.

Some tourists have opted to cancel their trips, while others have rescheduled because they need to adjust their transit airports. Tourists’ concerns about continuing their trips were considered relatively limited. They have continued their journeys by adjusting their schedules or choosing alternative airports where available.

Yogyakarta’s tourism industry players have also been actively providing tourists and travel agents with updates on flight conditions. The measure was taken to provide clear information and maintain tourists’ comfort during their journeys.

“As tourism stakeholders, we are also consistently providing our guests with frequent updates on the situation. We hope this can provide tourists with comfort and certainty,” he said.

Bobby said Yogyakarta’s tourism industry was also providing flexible refund arrangements for tourists affected by the situation. The policy was implemented because flight disruptions caused by the eruption were beyond the control of both tourists and tourism businesses.

Transportation Minister, Dudy Purwagandhi, said several affected airports had reopened as of Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The reopening took place after flight conditions were deemed suitable, while safety and security considerations remained the priority.

“Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Banten, Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta, and Husein Sastranegara Airport in Bandung were declared operational again at 12:01 a.m. Jakarta time. Budiarto Airport in Curug, Banten, and Pondok Cabe Airport in Banten subsequently reopened at 2:25 a.m. Jakarta time,” he said, as quoted from the Transportation Ministry, in Jakarta on Thursday, September 10, 2026. (Annaila Azzahra-EN)