I think purchasing (the tickets) in advance can certainly anticipate traffic jams and overcrowding on the roads toward the port area.
Merak, Banten (ANTARA) - All Eid al-Fitr travelers who are planning to use sea transport must buy ferry tickets in advance to support the convenience and smoothness of crossing activities, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has said.

"We expect that travelers will buy tickets far before or (at least) one day prior to the departure," he stated while reviewing the preparations for the 2023 Eid Al-Fitr exodus period at Merak Port here on Tuesday.

The government has set joint leave from April 19 to 25, 2023.

People can purchase tickets on state-run ferry operator PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry’s (ASDP’s) website, ASDP’s online app Ferizy, or ASDP’s official convenience store partners.

Merak Port has stopped offline ticket sales since May 1, 2020.

"I think purchasing (the tickets) in advance would certainly anticipate traffic jams and overcrowding on the roads towards the port area," the minister noted.

A number of travelers that ANTARA spoke to said that they had bought the tickets online, thus they could immediately board the ship once they entered Merak Port.

"We are pleased to use online ticketing, in addition, the departure (of the ship) is on time according to the schedule we have chosen," Rudi, a traveler from Depok City, West Java Province, who left for Palembang city in South Sumatra province, said.

According to ANTARA’s observation at the executive terminal of Merak Port from Tuesday morning to afternoon, homecoming activities ran smoothly, safely, and in an orderly manner without any overcrowding.

Meanwhile, President Director of ASDP Ira Puspadewi said that the prospective ferry passengers, especially at Merak Port (Banten)-Bakauheni Port (Lampung) and Ketapang Port (East Java)-Gilimanuk Port (Bali) routes, were required to buy the tickets starting Tuesday.

She informed that ticket sales on the Ferizy application and website have been opened since D-60 before departure.

ASDP has readied 65 ships to serve the crossing activities between Merak Port and Bakauheni Port. Seven piers of Merak Port will be operated during the exodus period.

Related news: ASDP Merak to run shuttle bus for Eid travelers
Related news: Ministers, regional heads to directly review homecoming issues: Widodo




Translator: Mansyur Suryana, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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