The Indonesian government has announced a 10% discount on flight tickets for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr 2025 homecoming and return travel period in March.
The policy will be implemented for two weeks, including the week before and after Eid al-Fitr, according to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto.
The government is currently refining the program’s mechanism, which will generally follow the scheme used during the previous Christmas and New Year holiday season. The discount will apply exclusively to domestic flight routes and will cover all airlines, offering more options for travelers.
Toll Fee Discounts
In addition to flight ticket discounts, the government plans to reduce toll fees during the Eid homecoming period. The Ministry of Public Works is discussing the toll discount scheme as instructed by President Prabowo Subianto.
Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo mentioned that discussions with the Toll Road Business Entity (BUJT) are already underway to formulate the discount mechanism.
“We are still discussing the details. Mr. Prabowo did not specify the discount rate, so we will decide together,” Dody said at the Presidential Palace Complex on Tuesday (February 18), as quoted by kontan.co.id.
The government will also open several functional toll roads to ease traffic congestion during the Eid travel season.
“Like last year, functional toll roads will be extended by around 58 km, and we hope they will open by 10 days before Eid. We will implement various strategies, efforts, and policies to prevent congestion during the Eid holiday,” Dody added.
Boosting Regional Economies with Flight Discounts
Economic analyst from the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios), Nailul Huda, noted that the flight ticket and toll fee discounts during Eid holidays could stimulate regional economies.
“The impact of this discount could certainly increase demand for flight tickets. People usually travel for Eid regardless of discounts, but this initiative allows them to allocate more funds for spending in their hometowns, boosting regional economies, especially during Eid al-Fitr,” Nailul Huda said, as reported by antaranews.com.
He also highlighted the benefits of offering discounts for public transportation users, not only to boost the economy but also to encourage people to shift from private vehicles to public transport like trains, planes, and buses.
“To reduce traffic congestion on major routes, especially through ports like Merak, which often become a nightmare for travelers, incentives for flights to Sumatra could be a logical choice. Even if toll fee discounts are given, proper arrangements and supporting facilities such as rest areas must be prepared,” he said.
Beyond transportation discounts, Nailul emphasized the need for government supervision of price increases during the peak Eid holiday season, as well as ensuring that employees receive their holiday bonuses (THR) to maximize the economic impact of Ramadan and Eid.
“The government must oversee the distribution of THR to boost workers’ incomes during Eid. Without additional income, the economic impact of Eid and Ramadan will remain limited,” Nailul Huda concluded.
Source: kontan.co.id, metrotvnews.com, antaranews.com
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