Govt Estimates Nearly 144 Million Trips During 2026 Eid Homecoming Travel

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government estimates that up to 143.9 million trips will occur during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr homecoming travel season, known locally as the mudik season. It said nearly all provinces on the island of Java are becoming major destinations, with Central Java becoming the most popular.

Based on a survey conducted by the Ministry of Transportation, an estimated 143.9 million people traveled to the expanded homecoming route," the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, said at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

"By destination, the largest number of travelers were to Central Java and East Java, followed by West Java, Yogyakarta, and South Sulawesi," he said.

In addition, Minister Agus explained that there are four peak dates of both the homecoming and return travel flows that are expected to occur over the next two weeks. He claimed that these four dates are based on simulations by the Ministry of Transportation, compared with statistics from previous Eid holidays.

"The first peak of the homecoming travel is expected on March 14 and 15, followed by a second peak on March 18 and 19. Meanwhile, the peak of the return flow is projected to take place on March 24–25, with a second peak on March 28 and 29," Agus said.

Minister Agus also said that 52% of the trips will be made using private cars, followed by private motorcycles, buses, and other forms of public transportation. Thus, most people will travel using toll and public roads, including small ones.

"The main load is on the main roads, both toll roads, national roads, including arterial roads, which will then be used to get to districts, cities, and destinations," Agus conveyed.

To reduce excessive congestion during the homecoming and return travel periods, the government has issued several measures, including discounts on toll road fares and discounted airline tickets. It also allows some civil servants to "work from anywhere" before and after Eid, and has instructed private employers to do so.