JAKARTA AUTHORITIES FORECAST INCREASE IN NUMBER OF HOMEBOUND TRAVELERS

Jakarta, 27 Ramadhan 1436/14 July 2015 (MINA) – The Jakarta authorities have forecast a three percent increase in the number of homebound travelers leaving the capital city to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, or locally called Idul Fitri Islamic festivities, with relatives in their hometowns.

“During this years Idul Fitri, the flow of homebound travelers is expected to increase by three percent from that recorded in the previous year,” Edison Sianturi of Jakartas Population and Civil Registration office remarked here recently, Antara News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

In 2014, the number was 3,616,744, and this year, it is expected to surge to 3,763,392.

“However, the number does not include those homebound travelers going by motorcycles, three-wheeled vehicles, and those using private cars or taking toll roads, as it is difficult to count them,” he said.

If they are also accounted for, then the number of homebound travelers from Jakarta could reach around 6.5 million people, he pointed out.

The Jakarta authorities have been monitoring travelers at strategic locations such as bus terminals, seaport, railway stations, and airport.

In the meantime, the transportation ministry has forecast the number of homecoming travelers across the country to increase by 1.9 percent to reach 20,002,724 from 19,618,530 recorded in 2014. (T/P010/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)