Mudik season: More than 123 million Indonesians expected to travel home for Eid

Summary

With COVID-19 restrictions lifted, Indonesia is witnessing one of its largest mass Exodus, as over 123 million people are expected to travel home for the annual Eid holiday. The busiest travel routes are from Jakarta, with millions heading back to their hometowns to celebrate Eid and reunite with family. Bus and train stations are experiencing a significant increase in passengers, with a 20% rise in bus travelers and over 20,000 passengers daily at Jakarta's train stations. This year's 'Mudik' season is projected to be the busiest in years, as nearly half of Indonesia's population participates in this long-standing tradition.

Takeaways

• 😀 Covid-19 restrictions have officially been lifted in Indonesia, leading to a large number of people traveling for the Eid holiday.
• 😀 Over 123 million Indonesians are expected to travel home for the annual Eid holiday this year.
• 😀 The mass Exodus, also known as 'Mudik,' is one of the largest and busiest in years, with 18 million people predicted to travel from Jakarta and its surrounding areas.
• 😀 The family of Afrizal is taking their first trip home since the pandemic, heading to Bukittinggi in West Sumatra.
• 😀 Passenger numbers are increasing by up to 20% this year, with many people waiting at bus terminals like Pulogabang in East Jakarta.
• 😀 The Jakarta train station is seeing over 20,000 passengers per day, and this number is expected to rise as Eid approaches.
• 😀 The Indonesian government has predicted nearly 124 million travelers this year, an increase from 86 million last year.
• 😀 Jakarta authorities have allocated 70 trains per day for the holiday period, up from 63 trains last year, to accommodate the surge in passengers.
• 😀 'Mudik' season is a long-standing Indonesian tradition where millions return to their hometowns to celebrate Eid and reunite with family.
• 😀 With nearly half of Indonesia's population expected to travel, this year's 'Mudik' season could be the busiest one yet.

Q & A

What is the expected scale of travel in Indonesia for the upcoming Eid holiday?

Over 123 million Indonesians are expected to travel for the annual Eid holiday, making it one of the largest and busiest mass Exodus in years.

How much has the number of passengers increased this year compared to last year?

This year, there is an increase of up to 20% in the number of passengers, compared to previous years.

How many people are predicted to travel from Jakarta and its surrounding areas?

Around 18 million people are predicted to travel from Jakarta and the greater Jakarta areas alone.

What is the significance of the Mudik tradition in Indonesia?

Mudik is a long-standing tradition where Indonesians return to their hometowns to celebrate Eid and reunite with their extended families.

What transportation changes have been made to accommodate the increase in travelers?

The Transportation Ministry has allocated 70 trains per day for the holiday period, up from last year's 63 trains, to handle the influx of travelers.

How many passengers are being recorded daily at the Jakarta train stations?

More than 20,000 passengers are traveling through the Jakarta train stations each day.

What role did the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions play in this year’s travel surge?

The lifting of COVID-19 restrictions encouraged more people to travel, as there were no longer any limitations on movement or gatherings.

Why is this year’s Mudik season expected to be especially busy?

This year's Mudik season is expected to be the busiest yet due to the significant increase in travelers compared to previous years and the emotional significance of returning home after the pandemic.

What was the impact of COVID-19 on the Mudik tradition in recent years?

The COVID-19 pandemic severely limited travel in recent years, with many Indonesians unable to participate in the Mudik tradition due to restrictions.

How does the transportation infrastructure respond to the anticipated travel surge?

The transportation infrastructure has expanded its services, including increasing train allocations, to meet the demand for travel during the holiday season.