Manokwari, W Papua (ANTARA) - State-owned shipping company PT Pelni has allocated 100 free tickets for homebound travelers making trips from Manokwari in West Papua Province to Sorong in Southwest Papua Province during the Eid al-Fitr holiday season.

"Pelni's ship, MV Sinabung, will serve 100 homebound passengers with free tickets for traveling from Manokwari to Sorong on April 4, 2024," Head of the PT Pelni-Manokwari Office Jusuf stated here, Wednesday.

Another 100 free tickets are also provided for outbound travelers willing to travel from Sorong to Manokwari on April 15, 2024, he remarked while urging the people at large to register for the free tickets.

Those keen on getting the free tickets have been able to register at the PT Pelni-Manokwari Office by bringing along their identity cards (KTP) and family cards (KK), he stated.

Registration could be conducted at the latest a day before the departure date subject to the availability of tickets, Jusuf explained.

For this year's Eid al-Fitr holiday season, the Sea Transportation Directorate General at the Transportation Ministry has provided 13,012 free tickets for 30 port destinations across Indonesia, he added.

ANTARA reported earlier that the Transportation Ministry has again organized a free homecoming program for this year's Eid al-Fitr holiday season.

To this end, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi urged residents to not use motorcycles for long homebound trips or "mudik" ahead of and during the Eid al-Fitr period for safety reasons.

"For this year's Idul Fitri, the Transportation Ministry organizes a free homecoming program to anticipate the surge of residents returning to their hometowns," he remarked.

The ministry's 2024 Eid al-Fitr Free Homecoming Program is available for travelers, especially those used to traveling to their hometowns by motorcycle.

They can select their preferred transportation modes -- ships, buses, or trains -- for free of charge.

The government aims to reduce the rate of road accidents during the Eid al-Fitr exodus period by encouraging residents to travel by using public transportation services.

A joint survey, conducted by the Transportation Ministry and Communication and Informatics Ministry, revealed that 193.6 million residents were expected to travel during this year's Eid al-Fitr holiday season.

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Translator: Ali NI, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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