Palembang Airport's Status Decline Risks Hitting South Sumatra's Tourism World

The decline in the status of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport risks hampering the development of investment and tourism in South Sumatra.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

The atmosphere at Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport in Palembang, South Sumatra, Saturday (27/4/2024), after no longer having international airport status.

PALEMBANG, KOMPAS - The downgrading of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport from an international to a domestic class is considered a heavy blow to several sectors in Palembang or South Sumatra. This is a risk that could hinder the development of investment and tourism in the region known as "Bumi Sriwijaya".

Based on the Decree of the Minister of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 2024 concerning the Designation of International Airports which was signed on April 2 2024, Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin Airport (SMB) II is not included in the 17 airports designated as international airports. This means that SMB II Airport has moved down from international to domestic airport. In fact, since 2005 or the last 19 years, SMB II Airport has had international status.

Also read: Tourism Actors and Observers Criticize Revocation of International Status at 17 Airports

The Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Sumsel, Kurmin Halim, when contacted from Palembang on Tuesday (April 30, 2024), said that the downgrade of SMB II Airport's status would drastically reduce visits from foreign tourists to Palembang or Sumsel. This is because traveling to Palembang from abroad will drain energy and time as well as incur higher costs due to having to transit at other international airports.

On the other hand, it is difficult to increase domestic or local tourist visits as there are limited tourist destinations in Palembang or South Sumatra. For example, in Palembang, natural tourism is solely dependent on the Musi River, while man-made tourist spots are very limited. As a result, all of this will become a factor that decreases hotel occupancy rates and restaurant customers.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

The atmosphere of the flight from Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Palembang Airport, South Sumatra, on Saturday (April 27th, 2024) after it no longer holds the status as an international airport.

"Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, hotel and restaurant business owners in South Sumatra were greatly assisted by visits from foreign tourists, dominated by those from Malaysia and Singapore. Moreover, before the pandemic, there were 10 flights from Palembang to Malaysia and seven flights from Palembang to Singapore per week," he said.

According to a report by Kompas.id on April 12, 2023, before the pandemic, there were 110 aircraft movements at SMB II Airport every day, including flights to foreign destinations. Currently, SMB II Airport only serves no more than 30 flights per day.

Threatening sports tourism

The phenomenon will also threaten the sustainability of international sports tourism programs, which have become Palembang or South Sumatra's main attraction for attracting tourists. It is not unlikely that the assets of the Jakabaring Sports Complex, which are a legacy of the 2004 National Sports Week, the 2011 SEA Games, and the 2018 Asian Games, will be neglected.

Before the pandemic, the sports complex was a regular host for a number of international events that attracted domestic and foreign tourists. At least according to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the number of foreign visitors from major countries who came through SMB II Airport reached its peak before and after Palembang became the host of the 2018 Asian Games.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, hotel and restaurant businesses in South Sumatra were greatly aided by the visits of foreign tourists, mainly from Malaysia and Singapore. Moreover, prior to the pandemic, there were 10 flights from Palembang to Malaysia and seven flights from Palembang to Singapore per week.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Palembang Airport, South Sumatra, has won a number of international awards, Saturday (27/4/2024).

The number of foreign tourist visits reached 14,701 people in 2017, followed by 13,862 people in 2018, and 15,846 people in 2019. Foreign tourists who visited mostly came from Malaysia, Singapore, China, and South Korea. However, their number of visits decreased during the pandemic, becoming 2,297 people in 2020, then 1,281 people in 2021, and 1,130 people in 2022 and 24 people in 2023.

"With the absence of direct international flights to Palembang, organizers of international sports championships will think twice about holding their events here. This is because bringing athletes or teams participating in the relevant championship will be more troublesome due to having to make a transit before coming to Palembang," said Kurmin.

Also read: International Airport Labels Are More Wasteful

The head of the South Sumatra Culture and Tourism Agency, Aufa Syahrizal, mentioned during the launch of the South Sumatra Tourism Calendar 2024 in Palembang at the end of March that one of the challenges facing the tourism industry in South Sumatra is the lack of full accessibility. One of the reasons for this is the suspension of international flights due to the pandemic.

"International flights are very important to promote the tourism appeal of South Sumatra widely, at least to neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. The goal is for the tourism industry here to become more vibrant," said Aufa.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Passengers who have just landed at Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport in Palembang, South Sumatra, Saturday (27/4/2024).

No significant effect

Regarding the impact of the downgrade of SMB II Airport status, Acting Governor of South Sumatra Agus Fatoni actually considers it to have no significant effect. This is because foreign investors and foreign tourists can still go to Palembang by transiting first at other international airports, such as through Batam and Jakarta.

Therefore, the local government of South Sumatra is trying to increase domestic flight routes to and from Palembang, particularly Palembang-Batam and Palembang-Jakarta. The goal is to facilitate access for potential foreign visitors to Palembang or Palembang residents who wish to travel abroad.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Passengers collecting baggage at Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport in Palembang, South Sumatra, Saturday (27/4/2024).

"The downgrade of SMB II Airport status does not mean Palembang is isolated from the international community. We still have the opportunity to develop all the potential here, including attracting investors or foreign tourists to come here," said Agus.

Despite that, Agus explained that they have already fought to propose to the Ministry of Transportation to reopen international flights to and from Palembang, which is a necessity for Palembang or South Sumatra. However, when the proposal was not approved, the Ministry of Transportation decided to downgrade the status of SMB II Airport from international to domestic.

Also read: Downsizing Airport Status is Believed to Encourage Domestic Connectivity

Nevertheless, the decision is not considered final or permanent. At some point in the future, if improvements are made in Palembang or South Sumatra, especially in increasing the potential for international flight arrivals and departures, the status of SMB II Airport is not impossible to change again.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

The atmosphere of the former international arrival terminal at Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport in Palembang, South Sumatra, Saturday (27/4/2024).

Therefore, now Agus is pushing for all relevant agencies to optimize all available potentials, including to the management of SMB II Airport to continuously improve its services. "Certainly, the management of SMB II Airport is beyond the authority of the local government. Nevertheless, we are ready to support all necessary needs for the improvement of airport quality as long as it is possible," he said.