The ongoing demonstrations and protests across Indonesia have not caused any significant cancellations of trips by Malaysians, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) said.
Matta president Nigel Wong said travel agencies had not reported major cancellations, although some tourists might postpone their plans.
“But I can say this: we do expect that some tourists may defer their trips to a later date pending the outcome of the situation. We won’t be surprised if they do that,” he told FMT.
“Unless there is an escalation or if the situation is prolonged, we do not foresee any major impact on local travel agencies.”
Indonesia remains one of the top regional destinations for Malaysians, with Bali, Jakarta, Bandung and Medan among the most frequently visited cities.
The protests, which began last week over MPs’ financial perks, escalated after footage of a police vehicle running over 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan on Thursday.
Protests have since spread from Jakarta to other major cities, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya in Java, and Medan in North Sumatra province, in the worst unrest since Prabowo Subianto took power.
The Malaysian embassy in Jakarta has advised Malaysians in Indonesia to stay alert and follow local authorities’ instructions.
No Malaysians, including students, have been affected by the protests so far.
