There Is No Partition, The Government Needs To Be Aware Of Rest Areas During The Christmas And New Year Holidays

JAKARTA - Millions of people are predicted to travel out of town during the Christmas 2021 and New Year 2022 periods, as the government has yet to issue travel restrictions.

Transportation observer from the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) Djoko Swtijowarno assessed that the government must be aware of the potential for COVID-19 transmission from the crowds of inter-regional travellers ahead of the year-end holiday. Moreover, the new variant of Corona B.1.1.529 or Omicron has entered Indonesia.

"Don't let the Omicron variant spread widely in the country and avoid a third wave," Djoko told reporters, Monday, December 20.

Djoko views that the mobility using the road at the end of this year will increase along with the purpose of traveling to tourist areas. The government needs to oversee the implementation of health protocols in rest areas.

"The rest area is a gathering place for toll road users who need supervision. Recently, there has been an increase in activity in the rest area along with the increase in toll road users," said Djoko.

Furthermore, Djoko said that traveling to tourist sites must prioritize safety. Moreover, the potential for tourist bus accidents is starting to increase in line with the increasing number of tourist trips.

"Therefore, it is necessary to provide adequate resting places for public transport drivers at tourist sites. Healthy tourism is to stimulate the local economy," he said.

However, Djoko also supports the government not to restrict and prohibit mobility ahead of Christmas and New Year. Because, it will have an impact on the decline in economic conditions.

"It's important to be alert for the omricon virus, but there's no need to panic, so you have to stop transportation activities. Transportation activities stop will result in a decline in economic activity. What needs to be done is to move in a healthy manner so that economic activity can continue to move," he explained.

For information, the Ministry of Transportation conducted a survey with the results that 11 million people or 7.1 percent will travel between cities at the end of 2021. Meanwhile, the potential for community movement in the Jabodetabek area is 2.3 million people or 7 percent.

Then, the most destinations for people traveling from Java and Bali are to Jabodetabek 22.9 percent or about 2.5 million people. Followed by trips to Central Java 19.5 percent or about 2.1 million people, to West Java 18.5 percent or about 2 million people, to East Java 16.6 percent or about 1.8 million people, and to DI Yoguakarta 5 ,8 percent or 624 thousand people.

The most chosen mode for use is motorbikes, 28.5 percent or 3.1 million people. The next choices are private cars, 23.3 percent or 2.5 million, buses 13.2 percent or 1.4 million people, planes 9.8 percent or 1.1 million people, trains 9.7 percent or 1 million people.