Indonesia Prepares for Eid al-Fitr Travel Peak on March 18, Implementing Work-From-Anywhere Policy
Indonesia is implementing a series of measures to anticipate traffic congestion during the peak of the 2026 Eid al-Fitr homecoming travel period, expected on March 18. These preparations include a work-from-anywhere (WFA) policy designed to distribute travel departures and ease traffic flow, according to Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi.
Work-From-Anywhere Policy to Manage Travel Surge
The Indonesian government is implementing a WFA policy on March 16-17 and March 25-27, 2026, to manage the anticipated surge in travelers during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. The goal is to spread out travel dates, preventing a concentration of traffic on a single peak day (ANTARA). Millions of Indonesians travel to their hometowns during Eid al-Fitr, creating one of the world’s largest annual seasonal migrations.
Comprehensive Preparations for Eid Travel
Beyond the WFA policy, the government is preparing transportation facilities and infrastructure to support smoother travel throughout the homecoming season. This includes deploying personnel and coordinating traffic safety and regulation among relevant agencies (ANTARA). Minister Purwagandhi stated that preparations are “running optimally and have been well prepared.”
Projected Travel Numbers and Transportation Capacity
The Transportation Ministry projects approximately 143.91 million people will travel during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr period (Jakarta Daily). While slightly lower than the 146 million projected in 2025, authorities acknowledge that actual travel numbers often exceed initial estimates, reaching around 154 million last year.
To accommodate this travel volume, Indonesia has readied 841 ships with a capacity of around 3.2 million passengers for maritime transportation (Tempo.co). These ships will serve national routes during the homecoming and return flow.
Safety and Economic Stimulus Measures
Maritime safety is a top priority, with comprehensive inspections being conducted on ship seaworthiness, safety equipment and crew competence (Tempo.co). The government is also providing economic stimulus through discounted fares for planes, trains, ships, and ferries, as well as a free ticket program with a quota of over 66,000 passengers (Tempo.co). A 30 percent fare discount is also available for economy class routes operated by PT Pelni.
Traveler Advisory
Minister Purwagandhi urges travelers to carefully plan their journeys, including checking departure schedules, monitoring weather conditions, and following official traffic information (ANTARA).