Mobility Soars in Indonesia During Eid al-Fitr 2023 After Two Years of Pandemic Restrictions

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According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the mobility of Indonesian society during the 2023 Eid al-Fitr celebration was significantly higher compared to the previous two years, which were limited due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The movement of vehicles during the “mudik” (exodus) and “balik” (return) of Eid al-Fitr in 2023 was recorded to have reached 26.3 million movements, both by land, sea, and air transportation, based on data from the Ministry of Transportation.

BPS Head Margo Yuwono explained that the movement of vehicles during the Eid al-Fitr “mudik” season in 2023 increased by 45% compared to 2022.

This movement, according to Margo, certainly boosts demand for a range of goods and services during the Eid al-Fitr period. He stated in a press conference on Tuesday (2/5/2023), “The movement of vehicles is dominated by private transportation, through arterial toll roads.”

BPS noted that the movement of vehicles passing through toll roads and arterials in 2023 reached 9.97 million movements, an increase of 175.56% compared to the 2022 Eid al-Fitr period, which only reached 3.59 million movements.

Meanwhile, the movement of “mudik” traffic by air during the 2023 Eid al-Fitr season reached 4.45 million movements, up 26.93% compared to the previous year’s “mudik” traffic, which recorded 3.48 million movements.

The movement of “mudik” traffic by sea reached 1.43 million movements or an increase of 3.21% compared to the 2022 Eid al-Fitr period, which reached 1.36 million movements. Meanwhile, the movement of “mudik” traffic by train during the 2023 Eid al-Fitr season reached 2.89 million or an increase of 29.07% compared to the 2022 Eid al-Fitr period, which reached 2.21 million movements.

This increase in mobility is a positive sign for Indonesia’s economy, as it indicates increased demand for goods and services during the holiday season. However, it also raises concerns about the potential for increased Covid-19 transmission, as many people gather and travel during this time. The government and relevant agencies will need to take necessary measures to ensure public health and safety during the holiday season.