Water Transportation Businesses Face More Potential Loss

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The Water Transportation Business Association (Gapasdap) has predicted that they could potentially lose millions of dollars from the upcoming travel ban policy.

The Head of Padangbai Gapasdap, Anang Heru said that the water transportation business has to face another challenge due to the travel ban policy that will be implemented during the Eid Al-Fitr Celebration this year. “Our businesses have been facing a major crisis since the Covid-19 pandemic struck last year, and now we have to accept another challenge from this policy.” Heru said.

He explained that the Eid Al-Fitr used to be the momentum for the water transportation business to increase their income, but the internal travel ban that will start from the 6^th to 17^th of May 2021 and is predicted to give a massive loss to the transportation sector. “Each company will have different levels of loss, it depends on the size and capacity of their fleet.” Heru added. Heru also said that out of the previous 12 companies who had been operating their fleet at Padangbai Port, one of them has decided to change their base due to the lack of passengers since Covid-19 pandemic began.

 “Our total earnings since the travel ban policy on the Eid Al-Fitr celebration last year is only USD 69,000 (IDR 1 billion), and it will continue to drop in the future. During these hard times, we only hope that the central government won’t put a restriction to the logistic transportation as well, because they’re the only reason why we’re still operating.” Heru concluded. Meanwhile Heru also proposed to the government to not extend their travel ban policy once it’s ended in order to prevent their staff from getting laid-off as the company would be struggling to survive.