JAYAPURA – The Papua Provincial Government has confirmed that free travel services will again be available during the 2026 Christmas and New Year holiday period. The program has been proposed by the Papua Transportation Agency to the Ministry of Transportation to support public mobility during the holiday season.

Head of the Papua Transportation Agency Matius Wally said initial discussions on the program had been held with the Ministry of Transportation. The provincial government is now awaiting an evaluation of last year’s free travel program to determine the allocation for this year.

“The free travel program has reached the proposal stage. We have also held the first meeting with the Ministry of Transportation,” Wally said.

Wally confirmed that the free travel program would again be implemented during the Christmas and New Year period. The number of passengers eligible for the service, however, will depend on the results of the evaluation of the 2025 program.

“It is confirmed that the program will be available for Christmas and New Year. As for the quota, we need to consider the results of the 2025 implementation,” he said.

According to Wally, public demand will also be taken into consideration in determining the required passenger quota. The government plans to announce details of the program earlier so that people have sufficient time to prepare for their journeys.

“We will release the information earlier so that the public can receive it as soon as possible,” Wally said.

In addition to the free travel program, the Papua Provincial Government is preparing subsidies for sea transportation to support inter-regional travel. The subsidies are planned for the Jayapura–Biak and Jayapura–Serui routes.

The Papua Transportation Agency is also planning a ferry service on Sentani Lake. The program is part of efforts to expand transportation options and improve connectivity for local communities.

Wally said all of the programs remain in the preparation and discussion stages. The government will provide further information once the passenger quotas and service schemes have been finalized. ***