Domestic Flight Ticket Prices Are Expensive, Judika: People Might Choose to Vacation Abroad

Kapanlagi.com - Although known as someone who loves the homeland, singer Judika cannot ignore the high prices of domestic flight tickets. The 46-year-old man admitted that he is often shocked by the comparison of local and international flight fares, especially when he has to travel with his family.

"We noticed that the prices were quite high yesterday, our trip to Lombok was almost 6, how much one way. If in business it’s more, but it’s really far from the economy class," he said when met in the Senayan area, Central Jakarta, on Monday (7/4/2025).

As a father of three children, including a 4-month-old baby, comfort is a priority when traveling. Therefore, he and his wife, Duma Riris, choose business class for the comfort of their child and to avoid disturbing other passengers.

"Because we are bringing a baby, we are afraid of disturbing people. So we need to look for business class, which also makes it easier if there’s a dad," said Judika.

1. Prefer to Vacation Abroad

However, on the other hand, the owner of the full name Judika Nalom Abadi Sihotang also feels concerned. According to him, if domestic flight fares are not fixed soon, people will actually prefer to vacation abroad where the costs are cheaper.

"Yes, it’s true, we might not know what’s happening but for me, this could be a suggestion for the government to adjust. It shouldn’t be that going abroad is much cheaper," he said.

The man from North Sumatra is worried that the impact could be broader. When tickets abroad are cheaper than domestic destinations, the potential foreign exchange from the tourism sector could flow to other countries. Meanwhile, the government itself encourages domestic tourism to boost the local economy.

"Yes, people will choose to go out later. While the government wants it to be within the country. The idea is that entertainment shouldn’t go out so that all the money comes into Indonesia," said the father of three children.

2. Continue to Promote Local Tourism

Judika highlights the high prices of local tickets (Photo credit: KapanLagi/Sahal Fadhli)

Even so, Judika continues to set an example by promoting local tourist destinations. Recently, he and his family chose to spend time in Bandung and Lombok, two locations that he believes offer tranquility and fresh air, suitable for children.

"Even though the tickets are expensive, we still prioritize domestic tourism while promoting Indonesia," he said.

For him, criticism of government policies does not mean a lack of love for the homeland. On the contrary, by pointing out what needs to be improved, he hopes Indonesia can become a favorite tourist destination, even for its own citizens.

"We are Indonesians, so it's natural for us to criticize something for our government. But when we go abroad, we don't want to hear bad things about Indonesia," he emphasized.

(kpl/aal/gtr)