Bus firms offer discount for early travelers
Bus firms offer discount for early travelers
JAKARTA (JP): Several inter-city bus companies are offering discounted fares for early home-bound travelers on the days leading up to the Idul Fitri holiday, following a similar move by the state railway company, Perumka.
Officials of at least two bus firms interviewed by The Jakarta Post yesterday, including Lorena and Kramat Jati, have offered 15 percent off all fares for those who travel home before the rush week of the mudik exodus.
The mass exodus usually takes place seven days before Idul Fitri, which this year falls on Feb.20.
The discounted fares offered by Lorena will be valid for 10 days starting from Monday to Feb. 7, while those offered by Kramat Jati are for one week before the rush exodus.
Earlier, Perumka had announced it would offer a 15 percent discount to people who travel from 10 to seven days before the major Moslem holiday.
Millions of people from across the country simultaneously return to their home villages in Java and Madura in the week preceding Idul Fitri
Due to the limited number of land transportation vehicles available, there is always tight competition for seats. It thus creates a situation where the homeward bound travelers look like refugees desperately fleeing a war.
"We want to participate in making Idul Fitri a success. I advise that husbands would do better by sending their wives and children earlier so that they won't have to struggle for seats during the rush week," said Samsudin, director of Karina armada of the Lorena bus firm.
Suharno, head of the marketing, research and development department of the Kramat Jati bus company, also gave the same reason.
"We are sorry to see children and women hustling and jostling for seats on the buses every Idul Fitri," said Suharno.
Lorena is reportedly launching a 210-strong armada during the rush week, while Kramat Jati has a 23-strong armada.
Some other bus firms are maintaining their regular fares, saying the measure of giving discounted fares is nothing but a ploy to win the competition among the bus companies in the weeks when the number of passengers decreases.
Riyanto, the personnel manager of the Giri Indah bus company, which is not discounting its fares, said the number of passengers will usually decrease by above 50 percent in the early weeks of Ramadhan, and will only increase around 10 days before Idul Fitri.
"During the 'lonely' weeks, bus companies can't afford even the operational costs. Thus, by offering discounted fares, they only hope to lure the customers off other buses, so that they can cover their operational costs," said Riyanto.
Giri Indah will reportedly launch its 117-strong armada during the rush week. (jsk)