JAKARTA, The Kabar News—The Indonesian government has introduced transport discounts and tax incentives for the 2026 Christmas and 2027 New Year holiday period, covering domestic flights, trains, Pelni ships and selected ferry crossings.

The program seeks to lower travel expenses while supporting household purchasing power and regional economic activity during one of Indonesia’s busiest travel periods. The incentives apply on different dates for each mode, making travel schedules and ticket eligibility important for prospective passengers.

The government expects the combined rail, sea and ferry measures to reach about 2.87 million passengers. It has allocated Rp161.4 billion for those three modes, according to the Coordinating Economic Affairs Ministry.

Passengers on scheduled domestic economy-class flights can receive a government-borne value-added tax incentive for eligible journeys between Dec. 22, 2026, and Jan. 10, 2027. The program is aimed at some 3.75 million passengers.

However, the policy does not provide free tickets or reduce the entire fare by the full VAT rate. Under Finance Ministerial Regulation No. 77/2026 the government will cover the VAT on the basic airfare and fuel surcharge.

Passengers on scheduled economy-class domestic flights will be eligible for a value-added tax incentive borne by the government for selected journeys between December 22, 2026 and January 10, 2027. The program is aimed at some 3.75 million passengers.

The government is offering a 30 percent train-ticket discount for journeys between Dec. 22, 2026, and Jan. 4, 2027. The measure is expected to cover about 1.04 million passengers.

The published announcement does not specify that every train or seat category will automatically qualify. Passengers should therefore confirm participating services, booking dates and ticket availability through official railway sales channels.

Pelni passengers can receive a 30 percent discount on the basic fare for journeys from Dec. 17, 2026, to Jan. 10, 2027. The government expects approximately 414,000 passengers to use the program.

Because the reduction applies to the basic fare, other ticket components may remain payable. Travelers should check the final amount before completing a reservation.

The ferry incentive removes port-service fees at 14 participating ports between Dec. 22, 2026, and Jan. 10, 2027. The program targets 1.42 million passengers.

The waiver does not necessarily make the entire ferry journey free because an integrated crossing fare may contain other components. Earlier government programs applied similar support to passengers, motorcycles and certain private vehicles at selected ASDP crossings.

Together, the government designed these measures to stimulate mobility across several transport modes. Seat availability, clear booking information and operators’ ability to manage higher passenger volumes safely will determine their impact.

Travelers should purchase tickets only through official operator platforms and verify whether their chosen route, departure date and fare class qualify before making payment.