By: Alexander Royce*)
The Eid al-Fitr homecoming (mudik) is an important social and economic event that reflects strong family ties and national mobility. The movement of millions of people from urban centers to their hometowns each year symbolizes togetherness and the dynamism of the people’s economy. In this context, the government’s policy of discounted transportation tickets and various travel incentives ahead of the 2026 Eid al-Fitr homecoming represents a strategic step with high social value. This policy emphasizes the government’s presence in providing convenience, ensuring affordable, safe, and comfortable travel, while also strengthening the spirit of community togetherness in celebrating Eid al-Fitr.
The policy of discounted airline tickets, toll reductions, and other transportation incentives demonstrates the government’s real commitment to the people’s real needs. Amidst global economic dynamics, fluctuating energy prices, and pressures on the cost of living, homecoming has the potential to become an additional burden for the community, especially informal workers and lower-middle-income groups. Therefore, government intervention through fiscal policy and transportation incentives is a form of social protection that is relevant to the current situation.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto views the policy of ticket and transportation fare discounts as part of a broader strategy to maintain public purchasing power while simultaneously stimulating the national economy. In his view, this policy does not stand alone but is integrated with the agenda of recovering and strengthening the domestic economy. The government, he believes, not only aims to ease the burden on the public but also to create a multiplier effect for the tourism, MSME, logistics, and household consumption sectors.
With more affordable travel costs, money circulation in destinations for travelers will increase, traditional markets will revive, the service sector will expand, and local economies will grow naturally. This approach reflects a development paradigm that transcends macroeconomics and directly touches the pulse of the people’s economic life.
Furthermore, this policy demonstrates how the government uses fiscal instruments and public policy adaptively. Ticket discounts and transportation incentives are not mere subsidies, but part of intelligent economic management: maintaining consumption stability, controlling seasonal inflation, and mitigating social pressures caused by soaring travel costs. In this context, the government acts not as a rigid regulator, but as a facilitator of welfare.
Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi views this policy from the perspective of public service and transportation safety. He emphasized that the government’s involvement in the homecoming travel (mudik) journey is not just about ticket prices, but also about service quality, travel safety, and traveler comfort. With fiscal support, such as covering VAT on airline tickets and regulating transportation fares, the government can ensure that transportation access remains widely accessible to the public without compromising safety standards. This policy, within a broader framework, reflects a user-oriented transformation of public services, where the government acts as a provider of a fair, affordable, and high-quality transportation ecosystem.
This approach aligns with the strengthening of the increasingly integrated national transportation system. The development of airports, ports, toll roads, and mass transportation infrastructure in recent years provides a strong foundation for a smooth homecoming travel. Ticket discounts and fare incentives complement these long-term investments, ensuring that the benefits of development are truly felt directly by the public. This demonstrates policy continuity between physical development and socio-economic policies, something that rarely goes hand in hand in many developing countries.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) views the fare discount policy as part of equitable distribution of development benefits. In his perspective, infrastructure should not be enjoyed solely by certain groups, but should be a tool for national unity. When transportation fares are more affordable, social mobility increases, interactions between regions strengthen, and access gaps can be narrowed. This policy indirectly strengthens national integration, as people from various economic backgrounds have equal opportunities to move, interact, and access opportunities.
This social dimension is often overlooked by technocratic calculations. Mudik (homecoming) is not just a transportation event, but a cultural phenomenon and a collective national identity. When the state facilitates this process, public trust in the government strengthens. People feel cared for, not simply controlled. This is Social capital is crucial for national stability and sustainable development.
The relevance of this policy is further strengthened when linked to the current situation, where the government is also promoting logistics efficiency, stabilizing food prices, and strengthening domestic consumption. Transportation discounts directly contribute to stabilizing seasonal Eid inflation, which is often driven by spikes in distribution and mobility costs. Lower transportation costs can reduce price pressures on consumers, thus benefiting more widely, even those who don’t return home.
Ultimately, the policy of ticket discounts and homecoming incentives is not merely a short-term populist measure, but a reflection of a people-oriented development paradigm. The state not only builds roads, airports, and ports, but also fosters a sense of justice, accessibility, and support. In this context, the government demonstrates that development should not be elitist, but rather inclusive and down-to-earth.
*) The author is a social observer
