Number of Idul Fitri Travelers in 2013 Increases

Jakarta (Antara) - The number of homebound and returning Idul Fitri travelers this year increased by about 2.21 percent compared with the same period last year, according to data collected by the national command post here on Monday. The data indicated that the highest increase was recorded by the air transportation sector, which saw an increase of 20.10 percent compared with the previous year. The number of Idul Fitri travelers on air planes this year stood at 4,038,943, persons, up 20.10 percent from the 3,363,107 passengers recorded in 2012. The 20.10 percent increase was only seen on domestic flights, while overseas flights only recorded an increase of 17.73 percent. Railway traffic this year also witnessed a slight increase of 2.7 percent from 3,257,172 passengers in 2012 to 3,345,214 passengers in 2013. Meanwhile, the number of holidaymakers using the ferries increased by 0.38 percent. However, the number of Idul Fitri travelers using sea transportation declined by 7.66 percent and that of passengers on buses dropped by 5.12 percent. Spokesman for the police headquarters Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto said on Friday that police had recorded 719 fatalities in traffic accidents across the country during the post-fasting Lebaran exodus. "During 'Operation Ketupat' 2013, which lasted for seven days starting from the Thursday after the Idul Fitri holiday, police recorded 3,279 traffic accidents, with 719 fatalities," he stated. He confirmed that 1,184 victims had sustained serious injuries, while 4,326 had suffered light injuries. A total of 6,991 vehicles were involved in accidents, and 4,159 of these were motorbikes. In Jakarta, meanwhile, 22 traffic fatalities were recorded during the Idul Fitri holidays from August 2 to 16, 2013. "The number of fatalities during this year's Idul Fitri holidays in Jakarta is lower than that from the previous year, which stood at 28 people," Adj. Sr Comr. Hindarsono, the head of the legal development and enforcement division of the Jakarta Police, said here on Sunday. Hindarsono noted that the number of victims recorded during Operation Ketupat was 27 percent lower than that of the previous year. He pointed out that in 2012, 227 traffic accidents had been recorded, involving 326 victims: 28 fatalities, 89 seriously injured, and 218 lightly injured. Material losses from these accidents reached Rp909.87 million. Based on police records from 2013, 166 traffic accidents were recorded, involving 270 victims. Of these, 22 had died, 67 were seriously injured, and 181 had suffered minor injuries. Material losses from these accidents were estimated at Rp821.45 million. (*)