West Nusa Tenggara Governor Highlights Ticket Price Disparities and Scalping at Mandalika Terminal
West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal has highlighted disparities in bus ticket prices during the 2026 Lebaran mudik period. Iqbal also raised concerns about ticket scalping practices at Mandalika Terminal, which has been widely discussed by the public.
Iqbal stated that these differences in bus fares do not necessarily constitute violations, as each bus operator offers different facilities.
“The government-regulated tariff applies to economy class, however in practice many buses have additional facilities such as leg rests and other services. Because the facilities differ, the class differs and the ticket price differs,” said Iqbal in a statement on Sunday, 15 March 2026.
The former Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey reminded bus companies not to manipulate prices and to comply with the maximum price ceiling that has been set. According to him, price manipulation often occurs through third parties or scalpers.
“There are reports of individuals forcing ticket sales at inflated prices to obtain commissions; such practices must be dealt with,” said Iqbal.
Monitoring Traffic at Lombok Airport
In addition to inspecting Mandalika Terminal, Iqbal also directly observed passenger traffic at Lombok International Airport. Based on provisional data, the number of passengers four days before Lebaran was recorded as higher than initial predictions.
“Initially, approximately 8,000 passengers were expected four days before Lebaran, but it has reached around 9,000 passengers,” said Iqbal.
“Hopefully this is also a sign that our economic conditions are improving, as last year passenger movement was noticeably lower,” he added.
Peak passenger flow at Lombok Airport is expected to occur three days before Lebaran. Currently, flight routes are predominantly destined for Jakarta and Surabaya. To anticipate increased passenger numbers, airlines and airport management have arranged seven additional flights.
“We, the NTB Provincial Government, continue to coordinate with all relevant parties to ensure air transport services during the Lebaran mudik period run safely, smoothly, and comfortably for the public,” he concluded.