Foreign tourists rose 35 percent, domestic tourists still dominate

KABARJAWA – The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) DIY recorded Yogyakarta Special Region tourism in May 2025 showing dynamic development. The Head of BPS DIY, Herum Fajarwati, said the number of foreign tourist visits (tourists) to DIY increased significantly compared to the previous month.

Herum asserted that in May 2025 there were 9,699 tourist visits to DIY. This figure rose 35.94 percent compared to April 2025 which recorded 7,135 visits.

However, Herum admitted that the number of tourist visits in May 2025 fell 14.34 percent compared to the same period last year which reached 11,323 visits.

Herum explained that the majority of tourist visits in May 2025 came from Malaysia, Singapore, China, France, the United States, Germany, Thailand, the Netherlands, Japan, and Britain.

Herum added that tourists from Thailand recorded an increase in the highest visit in May by 124.04 percent compared to April 2025.

Herum revealed that when viewed cumulatively, the visit of the January -Fei 2025 tourists dropped 23.78 percent compared to the same period last year.

Thailand is the only country with cumulative positive growth of 20.88 percent, while China has experienced the largest decline of 37.58 percent.

Domestic tourists are still the backbone

Meanwhile, Herum stated the number of archipelago tourist trips (Wisnus) to DIY in May 2025 reached 3,547,415 trips. The number fell 7.11 percent compared to April 2025 which reached 3,818,919 trips.

“This figure increased slightly 0.48 percent compared to May 2024,” he explained.

Herum detailed Sleman became the area of ​​origin of the highest Wisnus trip in May 2025 with 1,031,082 trips or 41.45 percent of the total DIY trips. Bantul followed with 696,023 trips or 27.98 percent.

Herum said Gunungkidul experienced a significant increase in Wisnus’s journey year-on-year by 19.50 percent.

In addition to the origin of the trip, Herum also highlighted the purpose of Wisnus’s trip. Herum said Sleman became the most destination with 1,262,171 trips or 35.58 percent of the total trip to DIY in May 2025. Yogyakarta City ranks second with 907,278 trips or 25.58 percent.

“Gunungkidul has experienced the highest increase in the journey of Wisnus on an annual basis by 40.29 percent,” he said.

Herum asserted that although tourist visits have not fully recovered, domestic tourists still dominate the DIY tourism movement.

Herum is optimistic that the stretching of DIY tourism will continue to increase in the coming months in line with the promotion and strengthening of tourist attractions carried out by the local government.