Holiday Travellers Opt for Ships as Affordable Means of Returning Home

Jakarta (ANTARA) - A traveller heading to Kupang, Alberto Manune (25), explained his reason for using sea transport to return home to Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), which is the more affordable ticket price compared to flight tickets.

In addition to being affordable, the government programme offering a 30% discount makes the ticket price for the KM Tidar ferry he will board even cheaper at Rp468,900, down from the normal price of Rp648,000.

“Yesterday when I checked flight tickets, they were expensive, over Rp3 million. When I checked ferry tickets, they were cheap and there’s a discount, the difference is huge. Instead of using a plane, and also bringing a lot of luggage, it’s better to just use the ferry,” said Alberto when interviewed by Antara at the Tanjung Priok Passenger Port, Jakarta, on Thursday.

Alberto revealed that this is his second time returning home to his hometown after more than five years of living as a migrant in the capital Jakarta, with his first trip using air transport.

On this homecoming, he chose the KM Tidar, scheduled to depart at 11:00 WIB, but due to issues, its departure was delayed to 17:00 WIB.

For him, it is no problem returning home using the KM Tidar, which is estimated to arrive in Kupang, NTT, on 24 March 2026, or taking about five days of travel time.

“The downside is that the journey is long. But the upside is that you can meet new people on the ferry, and also enjoy the sea views,” said Alberto.

Another migrant from Kupang, Ana Natalia (26), said that this homecoming will be her first experience using sea transport.

After nearly 10 years living as a migrant in the capital, she said she has only returned home twice, with the first using air transport.

“The fare is cheaper (ferry), so the holiday bonus (THR) can be saved,” said Ana.

On this occasion, Alberto and Ana complained about the same issue, namely the delay in the ferry’s departure schedule from Tanjung Priok Port, which lasts for hours.

For example, the KM Tidar they are boarding today experienced a delay from the original schedule of 11:00 WIB to departing around 17:00 WIB, or about six hours late.

“The schedule says 11:00 WIB, then we left the boarding house at 05:00 WIB, here just to hurry and check in, turns out departure is at 15:00, 17:00. But then here at 19:00,” complained Ana.