The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) predicts a drastic increase in the number of people traveling during the 2023/2024 Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holiday.
"During last year's Nataru holiday, it was predicted that 44.17 million people would travel, while this year it is predicted to be 107.63 million people. So the increase is very significant, over one hundred percent," said Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi in his official statement on Monday, November 20, 2023.
Of that number, an estimated 15.18%, or 16.34 million people, are expected to travel to East Java.
Other provinces predicted to experience a high influx of visitors during Nataru 2023/2024 are Central Java with a proportion of 13.80% (14.86 million people).
Then there are those traveling to West Java at 11.62% (12.51 million people), Jabodetabek at 9.19% (9.89 million people), and Yogyakarta Special Region at 8.92% (9.60 million people).
According to Kemenhub, the reasons for people traveling during the Nataru holiday are vacations to tourist destinations (45.29%), returning to their hometowns (30.15%), and celebrating Nataru in their hometowns (18.98%).
Kemenhub made this prediction based on the results of a survey conducted from October 26 to November 2, 2023.
The survey used an online questionnaire distribution method via WhatsApp, Instagram, and SMS blasts, and involved several parties such as media, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo), academics, and transportation practitioners.
(Read also: Domestic Tourist Travel Increased in September 2023, East Java the Main Destination)