"I have a slightly different view. We see that the decrease is only 4.6 percent, and I think it's too early to conclude that this indicates a weakening economy," he said during a media gathering on Saturday.
He noted that a single-digit decline in traveler numbers is not enough to definitively suggest a significant drop in people’s purchasing power.
A more in-depth study is needed to determine whether the decrease is truly due to economic factors, or if people simply chose to celebrate Eid in their hometowns, Purwagandhi explained.
“We still need to assess whether this is really an indication of reduced purchasing power, or just a matter of people preferring to stay in Jakarta for Eid,” he added.
He said the Ministry of Transportation will continue monitoring related indicators before making any conclusions about the reasons behind the decline.
"There are still many aspects that need to be explored further, so I believe it's premature to say the decrease is due to economic issues, especially since it's only around 4.6 percent," Purwagandhi said.
The total number of people traveling within and between provinces across Indonesia during the 2025 Eid holiday was approximately 154.6 million—a 4.69-percent decrease from 162.2 million in 2024.
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Translator: M Harianto, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
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