After the ban is imposed, the number has declined to seven percent. However, the number is still quite high, at 18 million people.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Transportation Ministry's survey highlighted that 18 million people, or seven percent of the population, would insist on heading for "mudik," the Eid al-Fitr homecoming, despite the government's mudik ban during the 2021 Eid al-Fitr.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi stated at a discussion on the mudik ban here on Wednesday that the survey found that mudik travelers will constitute 33 percent of the population without the mudik ban, and the figure plunging to 11 percent when the government announced its option to ban the annual exodus.

"After the ban is imposed, the number has declined to seven percent. However, the number is still quite high, at 18 million people. We, the (COVID-19 handling) task force, has continued to disseminate information on the policy. Hence, the number (of mudik travelers) could decline further, and the police could do their job of restricting (mudik travelers) in an authoritative and humane manner," he remarked.

According to the survey, the main destination regions for travelers are Central Java, constituting over 30 percent; more than 20 percent in West Java; followed by East Java, Banten, Lampung, and South Sumatra, the minister noted.

"Most of them used cars, while others used motorcycles. It means the governors must have sound coordination," he stated.

The minister cited the survey that mudik travelers tended to leave for their hometowns before the imposition of the ban on May 6-17.

"We are optimistic that the people would not go on mudik outside the ban period, and the policy of the mudik ban should be well-implemented," he stated.

The government has banned mudik on May 6-17 to stem the transmission of COVID-19.

Travel restrictions leading up to and after Eid al-Fitr have been revised to include April 22 through May 24 to further discourage the exodus.
Related news: Jakarta-Cikampek toll road crowded yet before "mudik" ban

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