The government asked all parties to carefully prepare for the 2023 Idul Fitri homebound exodus (mudik). It is estimated that the number of travelers will increase by 46 percent from 2022.
By
Kompas Team
·5 minutes read
SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN
President Joko Widodo gives a statement to journalists after visiting Cepogo Market, Boyolali, Central Java, Monday (10/4/2023) accompanied by Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan (left) and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo (right).
BOYOLALI, KOMPAS — President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo called on all parties to prepare carefully for the 2023 Idul Fitri homebound exodus. This is because the number of homebound travelers this year is predicted to be 123.8 million. Ministries, police and local administrations are demanded to be careful in dealing with the surge in the homebound exodus that will increase by 46 percent from 2022, which amounted to 86 million travelers.
"Last year it was 86 [million travelers], [this year it will be] 123 million. Be careful. Be careful with this number. I have already warned the Transportation Minister, the National Police chief, the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister with regard to [particularly] sea transportation, the governors, regents and mayors to be really prepared, because [the number of homebound travelers] jumped from 86 million to 123 to 124 million," said President Jokowi in Boyolali, Central Java, on Monday (10/4/2023).
Based on an online survey by the Transportation Ministry’s Transportation Policy Agency, it is predicted that the number of travelers will be 123.8 million.
Of these, 27.32 million travelers use private cars and 25.13 million use motorbikes. Meanwhile, homebound travelers by bus are estimated to be 22.77 million travelers, intercity trains are estimated at 14.47 million travelers, and rental cars are used by 9.53 million travelers. The rest are travelers who use air and sea transportation modes.
"[Attention for] Everyone, the main destinations of homebound travelers will be [cities in] Central Java, East Java and West Java, so the governors [Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo], [East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa] and [West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil], everyone really has to be prepared," said the President who was accompanied by Ganjar and Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan.
Preparations
In a number of areas, preparations for welcoming homebound travelers are continuing. In South Sumatra, hundreds of intercity and interprovincial (AKAP) buses have their roadworthiness and feasibility checked. "We carry out routine inspections and are getting stricter ahead of Idul Fitri," said head of the Transportation Facilities and Infrastructure section of South Sumatra region VII Land Transportation Management Agency, Alex Pardede, in Palembang, on Monday (10/4).
Alex said inspection of the AKAP bus transportation fleet for Idul Fitri began in March and will be completed on 14 April. This year, interest in AKAP buses is expected to be high.
In Semarang, Central Java, hundreds of buses that serve as homebound travel transportation undergo ramp checks or safety inspections. Until yesterday, the Central Java Transportation Agency had inspected hundreds of buses at 22 Type B terminals in its territory.
I feel that bus transportation is still an alternative for the community when going home for Idul Fitri.
Ganjar Pranowo called for safety inspections to be intensified. "I feel that bus transportation is still an alternative for the community when going home for Idul Fitri, so I asked the Transportation Agency to routinely carry out ramp checks," he said.
Meanwhile, in Bakauheni, Lampung, state-owned PT Indonesia Ferry River, Lake and Crossing Transportation (ASDP) predicts that the number of vehicles that will pass through Bakauheni Port, Lampung, during the Idul Fitri holiday period will be 249,942 units. To serve travelers, the ASDP has prepared 65 ships and added ticket service counters at Bakauheni Port.
FAKHRI FADURROHMAN
A number of cars await the arrival of the ferry at Bakauheni Port, Lampung Province, Friday (17/3/2023). Ahead of Ramadan, passenger and vehicle traffic crossing from Merak Port, Banten, to Bakauheni Port, Lampung, is still normal.
Free travel
The government and a number of private companies are pushing for free homebound travel programs to persuade people to go home early. These free homebound travel participants are expected to make use of the tickets they have obtained.
The Sea Transportation director general at the Transportation Ministry, Arif Toha, said registrations for free homebound travel programs are still open until 12 April. The departure times for the program are the homebound period of 15 April and 17 April, and the return trip on 25 and 28 April 2023.
Arif appealed to the free homebound participants not to waste the tickets they have obtained. Reflecting on the previous year’s free homebound travel program, there were participants who cancelled their trip because they had registered for a similar program elsewhere.
"For this year's free homebound travel program, I hope registrants make the best use of the tickets. It would be too bad if they are not used, because those tickets can be used by people who are interested, but didn't get a quota," he said.
Apart from the Transportation Ministry, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) also made a similar appeal. President director of Pelindo, Arif Suhartono, reminded the free homebound travel registrants to use their tickets. From last year's experience, the departing bus vehicles were not full, even though tickets had run out.
“One person usually registers in different [free travel] programs, so when the list is full, the passengers don't come. Many people are confused about looking for tickets. We ask officers to check and confirm passengers when ordering tickets," said Arif. Pelindo is preparing free homebound travel using 73 buses with a quota of 3,650 passengers for going home and returning back.
Many people are confused about looking for tickets.
Deputy chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission IV from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction, Arya Bima, asked all parties related to the organization of the Idul Fitri homebound travel to ensure the readiness of infrastructure and transportation facilities.
"Jasa Marga, Pelindo and AirNav were asked to carry out a service survey during the 2023 homebound travel period covering basic and supporting services, such as rest areas and toilets. The result of the survey will be submitted to House Commission VI at the next hearing," said Arya during a hearing at the legislative building in Senayan, South Jakarta. (INA/NCA/XTI/VIO/RAM/ ESA/Z14/Z06/Z04/Z02)
