Indonesia eases travel costs for Eid al-Fitr homecoming

Jakarta [Indonesia], March 16: As the Eid al-Fitr celebration approaches, the Indonesian government has introduced several policies to facilitate transportation, ensuring that people in the world's largest Muslim-majority country can uphold the tradition of returning to their hometowns.
Earlier this month, the government mandated airlines to reduce the prices of economy-class domestic flight tickets by 13 percent to 14 percent. The discounted fares apply to tickets purchased between March 1 and April 7 for flights scheduled from March 24 to April 7, 2025.
Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono stated that the policy was issued under President Prabowo Subianto's directive as part of efforts to ease the economic burden on citizens and ensure safe, comfortable, and smooth mobility during the Eid holiday.
"This will hopefully help those who have prepared to return home, reunite with their families, and celebrate Eid al-Fitr in their respective hometowns," Yudhoyono said at a press conference in Jakarta, as quoted by the Presidential Secretariat Office.
In Indonesia, the holy month of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr festivities are closely associated with the tradition of homecoming, locally known as mudik.
The Ministry of Transportation has estimated that at least 146.4 million people, approximately 52 percent of Indonesia's total population, will travel to their hometowns before Eid, which falls on March 31. Around 23 percent of these travelers are expected to use private vehicles.
For residents of the archipelagic nation, air travel is often the preferred mode of transportation, particularly for those returning to regions outside Java. However, flights in Indonesia are relatively expensive, with ticket prices historically increasing two to three times during Ramadan, making it difficult for many to afford travel.
To address this issue, the government is subsidizing airline costs by covering the 6 percent value-added tax (VAT) on economy-class domestic flights. Additionally, the price of aviation fuel has been reduced.
Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi reassured that the lower ticket prices "will not burden airline companies, as the policy does not affect their operational costs."
For land travelers, the government has also introduced a 20 percent toll road discount, applicable across all toll roads in Indonesia.
Additionally, through the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, authorities will provide free transportation for at least 100,000 people traveling by train and ship.
"These measures aim to lower travel costs for the public," Yudhoyono said.
For sea travelers, the Ministry of Transportation has allocated free tickets for at least 48,875 passengers across 336 ship departures on 153 routes.
"This initiative reflects the government's commitment to making travel more accessible for those wanting to celebrate Eid in their hometowns," said Captain Antoni Arif Priadi, director general of sea transportation, in an official statement.
He estimated that sea travel demand would increase by 10 percent this year, reaching 2.9 million passengers.
Economic analyst Nailul Huda from the Center of Economic and Law Studies noted that these government incentives would stimulate domestic consumption.
"People who save on travel expenses can spend more in their hometowns, boosting the local economy. Moreover, increased reliance on public transportation could help ease congestion on highways and at ports," Huda said.
Source: Xinhua