Ramadan 2023: 123 Million People Predicted to Join Eid Exodus in Indonesia

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - 123 million people in Indonesia are predicted to join the annual Eid holiday exodus (locally known as mudik) this year, according to the Ministry of Transportation. Last year, 85 million people went back to their hometowns for mudik.

Mudik is an annual trip for Indonesian Muslims to celebrate the Eid season with their families after Ramadan is over. 

The mudik in 2023 will be the first in which people can travel with more ease since the pandemic in 2020. Last week, Minister for Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi have reported the potential increase to President Joko Widodo.

"We reported that there is an increase of our brothers and sisters who are going to mudik from 85 million to 123 million," said Minister Budi Karya Sumadi at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Friday (24/3/2023).

According to the Cabinet Secretariat, Minister Budi also "have collaborated with the Indonesian National Police and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture on how to manage the exodus season".

The Ministry of Transportation has opened the free mudik program, but the minister also expects the private sectors to give promos for the travellers. 

 “I hope other ministries and private sectors will also provide free exodus tickets, at least for their own personnel,” he said.

Indonesians travel through land, sea, and air during mudik season. Some men even dare to use motorcycles to travel hundreds of miles away alongside their wives and kids.

Recently, Minister Budi has given a stark warning for the airlines not to hike the prices in this mudik season. He also ensured the sea transportation from Merak port in Banten province to Bakauheni port in Lampung province will receive more attention.

“The National Police Chief has ordered the operation of several other ports, such as those in Indah Kiat and Bakau Jaya so the departure point is not only in Merak, but also in those ports,” he said.