Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - Some four million vehicles are forecast to enter Yogyakarta during the Eid al-Fitr holiday period, and a significant surge in traffic in the region may follow, according to a government official.

"The calculation (of four million vehicles) is a rough estimate of the total travellers projected to travel (during the Eid exodus period) this year," Yogyakarta municipal Transportation Office Head Agus Arif stated here on Saturday.

Drawing attention to the Transportation Ministry's projection, the office head noted that some 20 percent, or equal to 16 million people out of the 85 million individuals that will travel during the Eid holiday period will depart for Yogyakarta.

If every private vehicle that enters Yogyakarta is occupied by four people, then four million vehicles are projected to enter Yogyakarta during the Eid period, he remarked.

"Travellers that will enter Yogyakarta are not only those returning to their hometown but also other tourists looking to spend their holiday by visiting tourist attractions in Yogyakarta," Arif remarked.

The municipal office predicted that the movement of vehicles entering Yogyakarta would peak on the second and third days after Eid al-Fitr, the office head noted.

"The significant surge in the number of incoming vehicles (to Yogyakarta) will potentially cause traffic congestion in Yogyakarta City, especially at tourism attractions," he stated.

He affirmed that the Transportation Office always coordinates with the Yogyakarta Police to relieve traffic congestion forecast during the period.

"Yogyakarta is not a large city and has limited road capacity. If we have four million vehicles entering Yogyakarta, then it will overwhelm our road capacity," Arif pointed out.

To prevent traffic congestion, the office head suggested tourists to visit tourist attractions in Yogyakarta by using means of public transportation, such as the municipal bus service TransJogja or online transportation service.

"Tourists can park their car at the city airport and use public transportation. Thus, they will not become preoccupied in trying to seek a parking spot while travelling in Yogyakarta. I believe this could be an alternative for tourists," Arif remarked. 
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