According to a survey by the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), approximately 107.63 million people are expected to travel during the 2023/2024 Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holiday.
This number represents 39.83% of the total national population.
Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi stated that the number of people traveling during this year's Nataru period has surged compared to last year's 44.17 million.
"So the increase is very significant, over one hundred percent (143.65%)," said Minister Budi Karya Sumadi in his official statement on Monday (November 20, 2023).
Kemenhub estimates that the peak of outbound travel will occur between December 22 and 30, 2023.
Specifically, on December 22, 2023, approximately 8.85 million people (8.22% of the population) are expected to depart.
Departures on December 23, 2023, are projected to reach 12.5 million people (11.62%), and on December 30, 2023, 12.31 million people (11.43%).
The peak of the return flow is predicted to start on December 26, 2023, with 12.01 million people (11.16%) returning.
Furthermore, 18.21 million people (16.92%) are expected to return home on January 1, 2024, and 20.41 million people (18.96%) on January 2, 2024.
Kemenhub made this prediction based on a survey conducted from October 26 to November 2, 2023.
The survey utilized an online questionnaire distributed via WhatsApp, Instagram, and SMS blasts, and involved various parties such as media outlets, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kominfo), academics, and transportation practitioners.
(See also: Kemenhub Predicts 107 Million People Will Travel During Nataru Holiday, These Are the Destinations)