As the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities come to a close, redBus, the world’s leading bus ticketing platform, unveiled insights into travel patterns and consumer behavior during the holiday season in Malaysia. Their analysis is based on ferry and bus ticket bookings made through the platform.
Surge in Travel Demand
redBus witnessed a significant 48% increase in the number of passengers booking bus and ferry tickets during the peak of Hari Raya compared to normal periods. This translates to a substantial 30.5% growth in bus ticket sales compared to the previous year’s festive season.
Meeting the Rush
To cater to the surge, redBus collaborated with numerous bus operators across the country, offering over 27,000 bus and ferry services on popular routes. Despite these efforts, 20% of Malaysian consumers still faced challenges securing tickets due to limited availability, highlighting the immense travel enthusiasm during the festive period.
Popular Bus and Ferry Routes
The most popular bus routes during the festive season included:
- Kuala Lumpur to Malacca
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur
- Malacca to Kuala Lumpur
- Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bahru
- Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan
For ferry travel, popular routes included:
- Johor Bahru to Batam
- Singapore to Batam
- Mersing Jetty to Tioman Island
- Pasir Gudang to Batam
- Langkawi to Koh Lipe
The prefered time for travel was 6:00 AM and 12:00 PM, with 9:00 AM being the most popular time for travel. It was also observed that around 82% of ticket bookings were for one-way routes, indicating a preference for flexibility and potential one-way discounts.
Busiest Travel Day and the Longest Journey
Sunday, April 14, the 5th day of Syawal, emerged as the busiest travel day, likely due to people returning to work the following Monday. This aligns with reports from the Malaysian Highways Authority, which documented significant congestion on major highways that day.
The Pasir Gudang to Kangar route bagged the spot for the longest bus journey, spanning over 836km and taking approximately 12.5 hours. Interestingly, with advance booking options available, one enthusiastic user booked their Hari Raya bus ticket as early as December 28, 2023.
“redBus is committed to providing efficient and world-class services to bus users in Malaysia,” said Krishnan Ramaswami, Chief Business Officer – International, redBus. “By sharing insights like these, we empower both bus operators and consumers to make informed decisions and improve the overall travel experience. Our data-driven approach allows us to adapt to the dynamic needs of the market and shape the future of modern transportation in Malaysia, ultimately enriching travel and connecting communities.”
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