DENPASAR, balitourismnow.com — The sound of a saxophone filled Trans Studio Mall Denpasar on Friday (Aug. 28, 2026), drawing visitors toward the stage as the Garuda Indonesia Travel Festival (GATF) 2026 officially got underway.
Around the venue, travel agents and visitors engaged in conversations about holiday plans, destinations, and special fares. Some discussions ended with an enthusiastic “deal,” as visitors secured their next journey.
Running through Sunday (Aug. 30), the three-day festival carries the theme “Where Every Journey Begins” and offers special fares for domestic and international flights from Denpasar, starting from around IDR 1.2 million. The promotional travel period extends through August 2027.
The festival was officially opened by Garuda Indonesia Denpasar Branch Office General Manager Dewa Bagus Rendra Maha Putera, accompanied by Bank Mandiri Regional XI/Bali Nusra Vice President Ni Luh Putu Sulistiawati and Ida Ayu Indah Yustikarini, Head of Marketing at the Bali Provincial Tourism Office.
This year’s event takes a slightly different format by bringing together the Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair (GATF) and Garuda Indonesia Umrah Travel Fair (GUTF) under one festival.
Across the participating cities, Garuda Indonesia is offering around 390,000 flight seats at special fares for domestic, international, and Umrah travel.
“GATF 2026 is being held simultaneously in Jakarta, Medan, Palembang, Surabaya, Bali, Makassar, and Jayapura, together with Bank Mandiri as our banking partner. Meanwhile, GUTF is taking place in Jakarta, Surabaya, and Makassar with the support of BSI,” said Dewa Bagus Rendra Maha Putera.
Connecting Travelers with Destinations
Garuda Indonesia President Director Glenny Kairupan said the festival is part of the airline’s efforts to expand access to travel while strengthening connectivity as a driver of tourism and economic activity.
“Indonesia has so many destinations and so much potential that need to be connected. Through the Garuda Indonesia Travel Festival, we want more people to be able to start their journeys with wider choices and greater value. For Garuda Indonesia, every journey is not only about where we go, but also about what we can move through that journey,” said Glenny.
The special fares cover a range of domestic and international destinations, including onward journeys available through Garuda Indonesia’s interline network with airline partners.
“With around 390,000 seats available for domestic, international, and Umrah travel through August 2027, we hope this momentum will connect more people with destinations, open new opportunities, and contribute to Indonesia’s tourism ecosystem,” Glenny added.
Beyond flight discounts, visitors can access a range of additional benefits, including discounts of up to 50 percent on prepaid baggage, advance seat selection, Garuda Priority Service, and Garuda Executive Lounge services.
GarudaMiles members can also receive up to three times the usual miles, discounts of up to 30 percent on Redemption Saver Award Tickets, and up to 15 percent on airline partner redemption tickets.
The festival also features a “Buy 3, Get 1 Free” promotion in the form of travel and shopping vouchers, as well as a chance to win a Toyota Innova Zenix Hybrid EV as the grand prize.
Bank Mandiri customers are offered additional benefits, including cashback of up to IDR 7 million, zero-percent installments for up to 12 months, GarudaMiles bonuses, and various transaction and lucky-draw programs.
The festival’s opening in Denpasar highlights the continued appeal of travel among Indonesian consumers while bringing airlines, financial institutions, tourism partners, and travelers together in one destination-focused event.
“From the enthusiasm we have seen since the first day, it is clear that travel remains an important part of people’s needs. Through the Garuda Indonesia Travel Festival, we hope more journeys can begin while creating wider benefits for connectivity, tourism, and economic activity across different regions,” Glenny concluded.