Gov't Cancels Free Eid Homecoming Trip over Coronavirus

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Transportation Ministry officially aborted the plan to provide free Eid homecoming or also known as Lebaran trips this year as an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, which predicted to continue until the Islamic holy day.

Land Transportation Director-General Budi Setiyadi said that the decision was taken following the internal meeting with Transportation Ad Interim Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.

"At the time of the meeting with the Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs, we have decided to cancel [the program]," said Budi on Monday, March 23, 2020.

He said the cancellation of the annual program was valid for trips by trains, buses, ships, and planes that had been planned by the Transportation Ministry. While passengers who had booked seats would get ticket refunds.

The Land Transportation Directorate-General had previously prepared a budget of IDR 34.48 billion for the 2020 Eid programs or 6 percent higher compared to last year's, which amounted to IDR 32.45 billion.

Moreover, Budi stressed that the government was appealing to the people not to return to their hometown during this year’s Eid homecoming in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The dissemination and calls for the community to remain at home would be commenced.

"The government pushes for socialization to ask people not to go to their hometown. By means, free homecoming trips will be canceled including the one initiated by SOEs too. We are better at our own homes," Budi underlined.

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