Christmas and New Year (Nataru) Holiday Stimulus: There are discounts available for airplane, train, and sea ferry tickets.

Transportation costs are often one of the main considerations when planning Year-End Holiday trips. Ahead of Christmas 2026 and New Year 2027 (Nataru), the government has prepared an IDR 883.4 billion stimulus package covering four transport modes. 

This program allows the public to arrange travel at more affordable costs, with potential reductions in airfares plus discounts for train and sea ferry tickets.

Deputy Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Drajad Hari Wibowo stated that this year's stimulus has more than doubled compared to the budget allocated for the previous Christmas and New Year travel period.

The government estimates around 6.14 million transport users will benefit from this program.

"Last year the budget was IDR 387 billion. This year we have allocated IDR 883 billion for the same four transport modes. That means the Christmas and New Year travel stimulus has increased more than twofold," Drajad remarked at the 2026 Nataru Mobility Expo held in Jakarta.

Of the total budget, approximately IDR 722 billion is allocated for Air Transport. The remaining IDR 161.4 billion is reserved for train services, sea ferries, and inter-island crossing facilities. 

Each transport mode has different discount values and valid travel periods, so travelers are advised to review all official terms before purchasing tickets.

Airfares Expected to Drop 11-12 Percent

Aviation incentives make up the largest portion of the 2026/2027 Nataru stimulus. The government will cover the full 11% VAT for scheduled domestic commercial economy class air transport services.

Additionally, a 50% reduction applies to multiple airport service charges, including passenger handling fees, plus aircraft landing, parking and storage services.

The Ministry of Transportation projects this combined policy will reduce Plane Ticket prices by approximately 11–12 percent.

This is not a flat fixed discount across all flights however. The actual price reduction will vary based on travel route, departure schedule, fare components and seat availability.

This stimulus applies for all flights operating between 22 December 2026 and 10 January 2027. Ticket purchases may be completed starting 20 October 2026 up until 10 January 2027, in accordance with applicable regulations.

As ticket prices and seat availability are subject to change, prospective passengers are advised to compare flight schedules and verify full fare breakdowns through official airline channels only.

Booking early also provides greater flexibility to select departure times that align properly with individual holiday plans.

Train and Sea Ferry 30 Percent Discount

For travelers choosing overland routes, the government is offering a 30% discount for Train Tickets for commercial economy class services operating in Java and North Sumatra. This discount applies for journeys taken between 22 December 2026 and 4 January 2027.

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) opened discounted ticket bookings starting 7 November 2026. Purchases can be made via all official KAI sales channels, including the Access by KAI mobile application. This program is projected to reach around 1.04 million passengers.

Meanwhile, sea ferry passengers may avail a 30% discount on the base economy class fare for all vessels operated by PT Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (Pelni).

This program applies for departures between 17 December 2026 and 10 January 2027, and is targeted to benefit approximately 414,000 passengers.

Pelni has deployed 26 dedicated passenger vessels to support this program. Note that the discount only applies to the base ticket fare, and does not cover additional charges such as travel insurance and port service fees.

For this reason, prospective passengers should always confirm the final total payment amount before completing their booking transaction.

Crossing Services Are Not Fully Free Of Charge

For inter-island travel, the government is providing 100% exemption on port service fees for pedestrian passengers, plus Category II and IVA vehicles across 14 ferry terminals.

This policy implemented by PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) applies for all departures from 22 December 2026 to 10 January 2027.

The program covers seven main ferry crossing routes: Merak–Bakauheni, Ketapang–Gilimanuk, Padangbai–Lembar, Ajibata–Ambarita, Kayangan–Poto Tano, and Sape–Labuan Bajo.

ASDP projects this stimulus will be utilised by approximately 188,909 pedestrian passengers and 467,118 vehicles.

This exemption only applies to the port service fee component. This means travellers will still be required to pay all other remaining ferry ticket charges as per official regulations. Tickets must also be pre-purchased via the official Ferizy platform before arriving at the port.

Plan Your Travel According To Transport Mode And Destination

With varying discount validity periods, travellers need to match their chosen transport mode with their destination and intended travel dates.

Air passengers and ferry crossing users may travel between 22 December 2026 and 10 January 2027 under the stimulus terms.

Train users have a shorter valid travel window, running from 22 December 2026 to 4 January 2027, while Pelni ferry discounts commence earlier on 17 December 2026.

This stimulus can be utilised to plan multi-destination travel itineraries. Travellers may take trains to explore cities across Java, sea ferries for inter-island trips, or flights for more distant destinations.

Options can be adjusted based on available holiday leave, personal budget, and planned Tourism activities.

That said, lower ticket prices must never lead travellers to disregard safety factors. The Ministry of Transportation is also intensifying roadworthiness and facility inspections for all transport infrastructure ahead of the Christmas and New Year peak travel period.

Members of the public should always verify travel schedules, confirm ticket details match personal identification, and follow official updates published directly by transport operators.

By properly understanding the validity periods and terms of each program, travellers can make the most effective use of this government stimulus.

Any savings made on travel costs can be reallocated for other holiday expenses such as accommodation, local food, tourist attraction entry fees, and purchasing products from Local MSMEs at travel destinations. (Antara)