By: Gema Iva Kirana)*
The government has taken strategic steps to tighten supervision of sea and air routes to ensure the smoothness, comfort, and safety of the public during the long year-end holiday of 2024/2025. This decision was taken in order to anticipate mass movements which are expected to increase significantly ahead of the New Year celebrations.
Public movement is expected to occur a lot during the 2024/2025 Christmas and New Year Period. President Prabowo has also ensured the government’s readiness to face the surge in public activity and maintain the availability of basic necessities during the long holiday.
In response to these conditions, the government has developed various strategies to optimize smooth transportation, ensure public safety, and mitigate potential disasters that may occur during this holiday season.
In an official statement from the Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau, it was stated that President Prabowo emphasized the importance of cross-sector coordination to deal with the peak of community movement. This coordination is very important so that all aspects, from transportation to the availability of basic community needs, can run smoothly. Not only that, the President also reminded to be aware of extreme weather that has the potential to affect transportation routes and community activities.
President Prabowo also emphasized that solid coordination between government agencies at the central and regional levels is essential. He ensured that all relevant agencies are ready to secure transportation routes, both land, sea, and air. With good coordination, it is hoped that the homecoming and return flows can run safely and smoothly.
The President is optimistic that the government’s thorough preparation will ensure the smooth running of the community’s travel process during the year-end holidays. In facing this increase in activity, good coordination between various parties will be the main key to achieving maximum results.
Previously, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, who led the Ministerial Coordination Meeting, explained that the government had discussed in detail various aspects concerning public comfort. One of the main concerns is the optimization of infrastructure such as rest areas that are friendly to children and the elderly, as well as supervision at tourist attractions that are expected to be crowded with people.
This is important so that people who travel can feel comfortable and safe, both during the trip and while resting. Pratikno also said that the government will continue to strive to ensure the availability of basic necessities and accessibility of tourist destinations. Thus, it is hoped that there will be no shortage or chaos that disrupts the comfort of the community during the holidays.
Security and order are the main priorities in the implementation of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Therefore, the National Police plays an important role in maintaining the situation so that it remains safe and under control. The National Police has prepared for Operation Candle 2024/2025 which will take place throughout Indonesia. This operation involves more than 140 thousand joint personnel from the TNI, National Police, and other related agencies.
This operation will be carried out by building 2,794 posts spread across various strategic points throughout Indonesia. These posts will function as monitoring centers for the situation in the field as well as service points for people who need help. With these posts, it is hoped that they can create a sense of security and comfort for people celebrating the holidays.
In addition to securing transportation routes and monitoring tourist attractions, immigration services are also a major concern for the government. Given the high mobility of tourists, especially to Bali and Lombok, which are favorite domestic and international tourist destinations, Director General of Immigration Saffar Muhammad Godam ensured that immigration services will continue to run smoothly during the Christmas and New Year holidays. To ensure smooth and safe travel, special patrol vehicles will be deployed in the tourist areas.
This patrol vehicle aims to monitor and supervise transportation routes and ensure that all administrative processes are running according to applicable regulations. With this step, it is hoped that it can reduce potential problems that can hinder the smoothness of tourist travel.
With various steps that have been prepared by the government, starting from increasing supervision on transportation routes to strengthening the immigration sector, President Prabowo remains optimistic that the long Christmas and New Year holidays of 2024/2025 will run smoothly and safely.
Various government agencies involved in security and supervision have coordinated with each other to ensure that the celebration is not disrupted by technical problems or disasters. Although the challenges faced are quite large, the mitigation steps taken are expected to maintain the smooth flow of homecoming and return flows safely and comfortably.
For the community, the steps that have been prepared are expected to provide a sense of calm and comfort while enjoying the end-of-year holidays with family. However, it should be remembered that safety is not only the responsibility of the government, but also a shared responsibility between the community and related agencies.
Therefore, the public is expected to support the government’s efforts by following all instructions and appeals given. The public is also reminded to remain vigilant against potential bad weather that may occur, especially on transportation routes that are vulnerable to extreme weather disruptions.
As a big country, Indonesia is certainly able to overcome these challenges if all parties work together well. Therefore, let us support the government’s efforts so that this holiday runs successfully and becomes a momentum to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between citizens.
)* The author is a contributor to Persada Institute