Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA) - State-owned port operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) III reported on Thursday that at least 65,530 homebound travelers had embarked and disembarked at the Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya City, East Java.

The total number of passengers having embarked and disembarked at the port ahead of this year's Eid al-Fitr exodus was recorded from March 24 to April 3, 2024.

Tanjung Perak Port's General Manager for Kalimas and Gapura Surya Nusantara Terminals Dhany Rachmad Agustian stated that the peak of the Eid exodus at the port had occurred on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

On the day, 12 vessels from various regions in Indonesia arrived at the port. They carried 12,900 passengers, he remarked, adding that the number of arrivals increased significantly from that of the regular days.

On regular days, the number of passengers embarking and disembarking at the port was recorded at no more than one thousand, while the number of ships docking at the port's pier was just recorded at one or two units.

The increasing trend of passengers embarking and disembarking at the port could have been observed since March 24, or 15 days prior to the Eid celebration, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, he stated.

On the day, the number of passengers traveling on ships from the port was recorded at around three thousand, he added.

Agustian said the number of passengers arriving at and departing from the port during this year's Eid exodus season could increase by 20 percent as compared to that of last year's Eid holiday season.

During the 2023 Eid exodus period, Pelindo III recorded 209,046 passengers embarking and disembarking at the Tanjung Perak Port, he noted.

Affordable fares and 40-kg excess baggage for every passenger might have encouraged more homebound travelers to choose ships as their mode of transport for their Eid exodus trips, according to him.

As reported earlier, a joint survey conducted by the Transportation Ministry and Communication and Informatics Ministry shows that 193.6 million residents are expected to travel during the Eid holiday season.

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.

Related news: Eid exodus: Health Ministry readies over 15 thousand health facilities

Related news: No e-toll card expiry during Eid exodus: Jasa Marga

Translator: Hanif N, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
Copyright © ANTARA 2024