Indonesia Prepares for Year-End Holiday Travel Surge
Click to start listening
Jakarta, Dec 19 (NationPress) Indonesia is gearing up to accommodate a surge of travelers during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, as millions are forecasted to crowd the roads and urban centers throughout the Southeast Asian nation.
As per a recent survey conducted by the nation’s transportation ministry, roughly 110 million individuals, constituting about 43 percent of the country’s populace, intend to travel during this holiday season. This number surpasses the traveler count from the same period last year.
Approximately 45 percent of this total, according to the ministry’s estimates, will be traveling for tourism, while around 32 percent will be heading home to spend time with family for the Christmas and New Year festivities. The ministry also reported that outbound travel is expected to peak on December 21 for Christmas and on December 28 for New Year.
Authorities have confirmed that transportation facilities and infrastructure are fully prepared to accommodate holiday travelers during this busy period, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
“We are optimistic that all the facilities and infrastructure that have been meticulously prepared will assist and serve the public during their journeys. We also urge all travelers to remain vigilant regarding weather conditions,” stated Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi recently.
The ministry has implemented strategies to mitigate traffic congestion, especially in areas anticipating a surge in travelers. These strategies include the introduction of contraflow traffic measures with police assistance on various toll roads. Additionally, a temporary travel prohibition for cargo trucks on national and toll roads will be enforced on certain days during the holiday period, although exceptions will be made for trucks transporting food, fuel, and other essential items.
Moreover, security arrangements for the year-end holiday season are underway, with police and military personnel deployed at key locations such as airports, seaports, and shopping centers, as noted by the country’s National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo in a recent press briefing.
During the Christmas season, the police will ensure the safety of churches nationwide.
