Hoping to increase sports tourism in Indonesia, Garuda has announced it will not charge travellers who bring sporting equipment onto their flights.

Announced this week, the carrier’s president director Emirsyah Satar explained the free baggage will last for up to three years with a possible extension, The Jakarta Post reported.

“This is our strategy to promote sports tourism so that we can attract more tourists who want to play golf, surf, or cycle in the country,” Mr Satar said.

With regions including Mari, West Sumatra and West Java popular for their sports tourism, the country’s Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu explained the carrier’s strategy could help develop the sector further over the rest of the year.

“People love playing golf and bicycling in Indonesia because we have beautiful scenery to enjoy,” Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said.