“With these transport discounts, we hope people will continue to travel during the holidays by taking advantage of the government’s incentives,” Purwagandhi said during a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday.
He explained that the fare discount program — running from June through the end of July — is part of a broader government strategy to promote equitable access to domestic transportation, particularly for students and families.
The initiative is under continuous evaluation to assess its effectiveness in increasing public interest in travel, especially among students and parents using public transit.
“The strong public response shows that fare incentives are effective in encouraging greater use of public transportation, while also supporting regional economic and social activity during the holiday season,” he said.
“So far, public enthusiasm has been very positive. These discounts are helping students and their parents benefit from more affordable travel options,” the minister added.
Earlier, the Ministry of Transportation announced an allocation of Rp940 billion (approximately US$58 million) in transportation subsidies aimed at enhancing public mobility and driving economic growth.
The program covers various modes of transportation, including trains, airplanes, ferries, and sea vessels.
In rail transport, a 30 percent fare discount is available for more than 3.5 million seats, supported by Rp300 billion in subsidies.
For air travel, the government is providing a six percent VAT subsidy on economy-class tickets, expected to benefit 6 million passengers with a total allocation of Rp430 billion.
In sea transport, discounts are being offered to more than 923,000 passengers, including those on passenger vessels and pioneer ships.
Meanwhile, ferry fare subsidies will cover over 500,000 passengers and around 1.1 million vehicles, with Rp210 billion in government support.
These incentives aim to make travel more affordable during peak periods and encourage broader public use of transportation services across Indonesia.
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Translator: Harianto, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Anton Santoso
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