Early Returning Holidaymakers from Java Begin Arriving at Bakauheni Port

Several days before Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah, foot passengers from Java have begun arriving at Bakauheni Port in Lampung. Although there is activity from returning holidaymakers, no significant surge has yet been observed at the beginning of this week, five days before Eid (H-5).

These foot passengers from Java have opted to return home earlier to avoid becoming trapped in vehicle congestion and passenger queues during the peak Eid holiday rush period.

Monitoring by CNNIndonesia.com at the location on Monday, 16 March, throughout the afternoon and evening, saw many foot passengers from Java arriving as they disembarked from ferries at Bakauheni. They arrived after sailing from Merak Port, docking at berths 7 and 1 (executive class) and berths 2 and 3 (regular class) at Bakauheni Port.

The majority of these returners travelled in groups with family, relatives, colleagues, and those from their hometowns, though some university students travelled alone. They carried typical holiday luggage including suitcases, backpacks, and cardboard boxes containing Eid gifts for families back home.

The migrant workers heading home walked through the Gang Way corridor at the berth and proceeded to Bakauheni terminal to continue their journeys to various districts and cities across Lampung Province and other Sumatran regions by travel van, regional bus (AKDP), and intercity bus (AKAP).

Additionally, passengers in private vehicles, travel vans, buses, and motorcycle riders arriving at the port were also observed to be moving smoothly and without congestion.

Conversely, returners from Sumatra—whether foot passengers, users of four-wheeled vehicles (private), motorcycles, or buses preparing to cross to Java via Bakauheni Port—still showed calm conditions five days before Eid.

Buna, 35, a holidaymaker from Tanjung Priok, Jakarta heading to her hometown in Pugung Raharjo District, East Lampung, remarked that this year’s 2026 Eid holiday journey had been relatively smooth compared to the previous year (2025) during the same H-5 period.

“Praise be to God, this year’s journey has been smooth, from taking the bus from Priok all the way to Merak Port. Last year there were long traffic jams and lengthy queues,” the woman, who works as a domestic helper, told CNNIndonesia.com on Monday afternoon.

She noted that she had undertaken this journey approximately four times during previous Eids, and this year she was travelling alone, unlike her usual practice of travelling with colleagues from her hometown.

“Usually I go with friends from the same hometown who also work as domestic helpers in Jakarta, but since they haven’t got leave yet, I’m going home alone this year,” she said.

Similarly, a university student from one of Bogor’s campuses in West Java, heading to the Bandar Jaya area in Central Lampung, remarked that whilst Merak had been crowded with holidaymakers, the queues had been smooth—no backlog occurred.

“Although Merak Port looked very crowded, it was running smoothly and there were no queues like last year,” she said.

Andi Kurniawan, communications officer for PT ASDP Bakauheni Branch, stated that the arrival of holidaymakers from Java began to increase noticeably at Bakauheni Port on H-7 Eid. Despite the increases, operations remained smooth.

“We began observing increased numbers on H-7 Eid, and there was another increase last Sunday, H-6 Eid, based on ASDP’s 24-hour holiday transport data,” he said.

According to PT ASDP Bakauheni Branch’s holiday transport data on H-6 Eid 2026 over a 24-hour period (15 March 2026 from 00.00 to 23.59 WIB), a total of 134 ferry trips operated. The realised total of passengers crossing from Java to Sumatra via Merak, Ciwandan, and Bojonegara BBJ ports was 88,791 people, representing a 44.7 per cent increase compared to 61,383 people during the same period last year.

Two-wheeled vehicles realised 5,996 units, rising 89.7 per cent compared to last year’s 3,161 units. Four-wheeled vehicles totalled 10,705 units, up 27.2 per cent from 8,413 units in the same period last year.

Trucks reached 2,237 units, up 14.2 per cent compared to 1,958 units during the same period last year. Buses totalled 852 units, up 61.7 per cent compared to 527 units last year.

Conversely, the realised number of passengers crossing from Sumatra to Java via Bakauheni, Wika Beton, and Muara Pilu BBJ ports on H-6 Eid was 46,641 people, up approximately 14.9 per cent compared to 39,708 people during the same period last year.

Two-wheeled vehicles totalled 877 units, up 62.7 per cent compared to 539 units last year. Four-wheeled vehicles reached 5,210 units, up 15.4 per cent from 4,514 units during the same period last year.

Trucks totalled 2,374 units, up 13.4 per cent compared to 2,094 units last year. Buses totalled 631 units, up 5.2 per cent from 600 units during the same period last year.