Eid Travel Management Shifts Focus to Tourist Attractions Safety: Minister

TheIndonesia.id - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi stated that the focus of the Eid al-Fitr homecoming management will shift to the safety of travelers to tourism attractions in their respective hometowns.

"The homecoming movement was relatively manageable, as we have passed the travel peak period. The peak period was yesterday," Sumadi stated after accompanying President Joko Widodo in observing the Eid homecoming activities at Jakarta's Pasar Senen Station on Monday.

The minister remarked that one of the current focuses of traffic wardens will be to ensure buses carrying tourists to tourist attractions during the Eid holiday period comply with roadworthiness regulations.

"(Tourists) should board buses that have satisfied the ministry's ramp check criteria. I have coordinated with the police chief (to ensure buses) have undergone ramp check," the minister remarked, as quoted by Antara.

He recognized that some residents have planned to travel to tourist attractions with their families while spending the Eid holiday in their hometowns.

The ministry also projected the number of travelers using public transportation during the Eid al-Fitr period will increase following measures to reduce homecoming travel with motorcycles, he added.

"Travelers to Surakarta might plan to visit Tawangmangu or those going to Yogyakarta want to visit Borobudur. We must ensure (bus) drivers (drive) properly, lest the accident rate will rise up," the minister stated.

Sumadi spoke of having coordinated with regional police forces to supervise bus transport management, from the ramp check process to the selection of bus drivers, to ensure the safe travel of Eid travelers.

"I also instruct them that if they found a bus without a ramp check verification, (then tell them) to turn around and cancel their journey to tourism attractions," he remarked.