In anticipation of the 123.8 million people expected to travel during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, the Ministry of Tourism in Indonesia is preparing various destinations, including tourist villages and religious tourism sites, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno has stated.

The minister informed in a written statement received on Thursday that they have prepared several tour packages, such as tourist villages to religious tourism-based destinations for the 123.8 million tourists who are predicted to travel during the Eid-al-Fitr holiday.

According to UNO, the Eid homecoming period will be the key driving force in achieving the aim of mobilising domestic tourists, namely 1.4 billion journeys, by 2023.

“This momentum will be able to create 2–3 times the total trips. We are targeting 25 per cent, or 300–350 million trips, of the target of 1.4 billion domestic tourist mobility this year to be achieved,” he said.

According to UNO, the objective is based on people’s movement patterns from their place of origin to their hometowns and travel to places surrounding their hometowns before returning to their place of origin.

“So, at least there will be three movements per person for this homecoming. We must also create a safe and comfortable homecoming for this year,” he added.

As previously reported, the Ministry has planned several scenarios and improved communication with local governments in anticipation of a rise in visitor traffic around the Eid holiday.

“We will also carry out a simulation to prepare for crowd control, visitors’ flow, and other measures,” he said.

The Eid-al-Fitr 1444 H holiday is the first long weekend following the COVID-19 pandemic and the lifting of communal activity restrictions (PPKM). As a result, Uno predicts that the number of tourists will rise throughout the holiday season.

He also stated that his Ministry has co-ordinated with tourism services in districts, cities, and provinces, as well as authorities in each tourism site, to prepare for visitors.