November 5, 2025 | 04:48 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Banyuwangi Regent Ipuk Fiestiandiani joyfully welcomed the desire of President Prabowo Subianto for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train (Whoosh) project to be extended not only to Surabaya but also to continue all the way to Banyuwangi. She stated that the plan was good news for the region.
"This is good news for the region, especially for the people of Banyuwangi. We are grateful and ready to support the central government's program to extend the high-speed train route to Banyuwangi," said Ipuk on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
Ipuk stated that extending the high-speed train to Banyuwangi would strengthen inter-regional connectivity, boost tourism, and accelerate the distribution of logistics to and from the eastern tip of Java.
She added that the high-speed train would significantly enhance connectivity to Banyuwangi. In addition to the existing railway, Banyuwangi already features an airport serving flights from Jakarta and Surabaya, as well as the busy Ketapang port, one of the busiest in Indonesia.
"With the presence of the high-speed train, it will further improve the connectivity between regions across Java," Ipuk asserted.
Banyuwangi Tourism and Rail Traffic
The number of tourist visits to Banyuwangi reached 3.2 million people in 2024, marking an increase from 3.1 million in the previous year. Meanwhile, the number of foreign tourists reached 122,904 in 2024, up sharply from 69,639 in 2023.
Furthermore, the growth of railway users heading to Banyuwangi continues to increase. Trains serving the Banyuwangi route are among the top three busiest in Indonesia. PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) Daop 9 Jember reported that passenger numbers heading to Banyuwangi have risen every year.
In the third quarter of 2025, while the highest number of passengers in the Daop 9 region was at Jember Station, the second to fourth positions were occupied by Banyuwangi Kota, Ketapang, and Kalisetail Stations.
Prabowo's desire for the high-speed train to reach Banyuwangi was conveyed after the inauguration of the New Tanah Abang Station in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
"InsyaAllah (God willing). Not only to Surabaya, I'm asking to extend it to Banyuwangi," said Prabowo.
According to Prabowo, the construction of the high-speed train is insufficient if it only reaches Surabaya, as previously planned. "Surabaya was in the past—now it’s Banyuwangi," Prabowo emphasized.
Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to the report
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