Indonesia Prepares for Massive Travel Surge During Christmas and New Year Holiday

Record Travel Projections for Nataru 2025-2026

The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation has projected that 119.5 million people will travel during the upcoming Christmas and New Year (Nataru) period, marking a 2.71% increase from the previous year's figures. This projection is based on a survey conducted by the Transportation Policy Agency (BKT) under the Ministry of Transportation. The data indicates that 42.01% of Indonesia's population plans to travel outside their cities, while the remaining 57.99% do not intend to travel.

Key Travel Routes and Peak Travel Dates

The ministry has identified major origin and destination cities for the travel surge. Key departure cities include Jakarta Timur, Bekasi, Bogor, Surabaya, and Makassar, while popular destinations are Yogyakarta, Bandung, Malang, Bogor, and Denpasar. The peak travel date is expected to be on December 24, 2025, with most travelers departing in the morning. The peak return journey is anticipated on January 2, 2026, also primarily in the morning.

Government Preparations and Economic Stimulus

To manage the anticipated travel surge, the Ministry of Transportation will operate its Nataru coordination center from December 18, 2025, to January 5, 2026. The government has been conducting intensive coordination with local governments to ensure readiness across various transportation infrastructure, including airports, terminals, and ports. This includes ramp checks on transportation vehicles, which began several weeks ago under the instruction of the Minister of Transportation.

Transportation Discounts and Incentives

As part of its efforts to facilitate smooth travel and provide economic stimulus, the government is offering various transportation discounts during the Nataru period. These include:

• 30% discount on economy class train tickets for approximately 1.51 million passengers
• 20% discount on basic sea transport fares below Pelni rates, targeting around 405,000 passengers
• 100% discount on port services for ferry transportation under ASDP, benefiting about 2.14 million passengers and 491,000 vehicles
• Discounts on flight tickets through reductions in various components such as VAT, fuel prices, and passenger taxes

These measures aim to not only ease the travel experience but also provide an economic boost during the holiday season.