The trend of overseas travel is experiencing a significant boom, primarily driven by affluent millennials. In response to this surging demand, the market is offering increasingly exclusive travel services and streamlined payment access.
Official data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), released on November 3, 2025, reveals that the number of trips made by Indonesian outbound tourists (wisnas) reached 695,908 in September 2025 alone.
This figure marks a notable 1.6% increase compared to August 2025 (month-on-month) and an even more substantial 5.25% rise when benchmarked against September 2024 (year-on-year), highlighting robust growth in the sector.
Cumulatively, the total number of outbound trips from January to September 2025 soared to 6,821,978. This represents a 2.51% increase over the same period in 2024, signaling sustained momentum in international travel.
“The number of national tourist trips until September 2025 represents the highest achievement since 2020,” stated BPS, underscoring the strong recovery and expansion of outbound tourism.
According to BPS data as of July 2025, released on September 1, 2025, the most favored travel destinations for Indonesian tourists include Malaysia (31.66%), Saudi Arabia (18.30%), Singapore (13.55%), and China (6.24%).
Further insights into traveler behavior come from Klook’s Travel Pulse 3.0 research, conducted in 2025, which indicates that a staggering 91% of tourists dedicate half of their travel budget to seeking out new and unique experiences.
This comprehensive survey also identified Japan as the primary preferred destination for Indonesian tourists, closely followed by Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, and China, all of which continue to see significant increases in popularity.
Dessy Safitri Masri, Head of Products & Value Added Services at Visa Indonesia, elaborated that this heightened interest in travel is particularly concentrated among “affluent millennials.” This trend is further amplified by the dominant use of digital platforms (90%) for booking flights and accommodations, reflecting a shift towards convenience and online accessibility.
“Because they desire a more exclusive experience,” she remarked in Jakarta on Friday, November 22, 2025, pinpointing the core motivation behind their travel choices.
Echoing this sentiment, Ruddy Martono, Head of Assets and Retail Sales at HSBC Indonesia, also highlighted the emerging affluent segment as a key market with substantial potential within the tourism sector.
“The segment we aim to target is the emerging affluent, or as Ms. Dessy from Visa calls them, affluent millennials—young individuals, like my siblings in their 20s and 30s, who are eager to travel more, keen to explore Korea or Japan,” he explained, illustrating the demographic’s aspirations.
In response, HSBC has developed a suite of comprehensive services designed to cater to every stage of the travel journey: pre-travel planning, support during the trip, and post-travel assistance.
“Traveling is a lifestyle. It’s not just about the journey itself, but also about meticulous planning—for example, for a trip to Japan, considering the duration, number of family members, and the budget,” Ruddy emphasized, highlighting the intricate nature of modern travel planning.
“During the trip, it should also be safe, comfortable, and offer many promotions. Upon returning, travelers shouldn’t have to worry about installment payments. They should come home to heal, not to stress,” he added, outlining the ideal end-to-end travel experience.
Kepadatan Traffic dan Keamanan Siber (Traffic Congestion and Cybersecurity)
Capitalizing on these prevailing travel trends, Klook has launched the Klook Travel Fest 2025, a collaborative initiative with Visa and HSBC. Attendees at the festival can discover a wide array of offers and promotions to explore their favorite destinations.
“We are committed to providing an easier, safer, and more enjoyable travel experience for every Klook user,” affirmed Sarah Wan, General Manager for Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia at Klook Travel.
Addressing concerns about potential website traffic congestion and cybersecurity issues that could disrupt booking and payment convenience during the festival, Dessy Masri assured that Visa possesses robust technical capabilities.
According to an official statement from Visa, their advanced technology infrastructure can process an astounding 83,000 transaction messages per second globally. This formidable network is primarily supported by a state-of-the-art data center located in Ashburn, Virginia, USA.
Visa also operates two dedicated command centers that ensure their network runs non-stop, 24/7. First, the Network Operations Center (NOC) conducts real-time monitoring of every transaction. Its capacity, proven by stress-tests, exceeds 65,000 messages per second.
Second, the Risk Operations Center (ROC) serves as the frontline defense against fraud, processing anomalies in real-time and mitigating cyber attacks within minutes, thereby safeguarding user transactions and data.
Regarding the security of its credit cards, Dessy highlighted that Visa implements multi-layered security protocols, including EMV 3-D Secure Authentication, specifically designed to protect digital transactions.
“There are numerous levels of security in place, so there’s absolutely no need to worry about security aspects,” she reassured, emphasizing Visa’s comprehensive approach to protecting customer data.
The Klook travel festival is scheduled to run for three days, from Friday to Sunday (November 21-23, 2025). The event will feature a variety of engaging activities, including daily “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” flash sales, instant prizes, interactive games, and inspiring sharing sessions with prominent travel influencers and Klook Creators.
The festival will also be enlivened by special musical performances, with Rendy Pandugo gracing the stage on Saturday evening (November 22, 2025) and Rizky Febian entertaining attendees on Sunday afternoon (November 23, 2025).
Summary
The trend of overseas travel is rapidly increasing, primarily fueled by affluent millennials seeking exclusive experiences. Data from Statistics Indonesia shows 695,908 outbound trips in September 2025, marking significant growth and reaching the highest level since 2020. Popular destinations include Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Japan, with 91% of tourists dedicating their budget to unique experiences and utilizing digital platforms for bookings.
In response to this demand, financial institutions like Visa and HSBC are targeting these “emerging affluent” travelers with comprehensive services, from planning to post-travel support. Klook launched the Klook Travel Fest 2025, in partnership with Visa and HSBC, offering various travel promotions. Visa assures robust cybersecurity measures, including a network processing 83,000 transactions per second and multi-layered security protocols, to ensure safe and convenient digital bookings.
