Batam, Batamnews - The flow of passenger departures at Hang Nadim Airport, Batam, Riau Islands increased dramatically on Saturday (10/4/2021).

This increase in passengers is suspected to be a plan of the passengers to return to their hometowns before the homecoming ban is imposed on 6 to 17 May 2021.

Risky, one of the prospective passengers for Jakarta, admitted that he chose to go home early because he wanted to get together with his family.

He chose to return to his hometown at this time because there was no policy to prohibit going home.

"I am here (Batam) looking for work. I haven't got it. I better go back to my hometown," said Risky who claimed to be from Purwakarta, West Java.

Together with four colleagues, Risky will continue the journey to Purwakarta upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Meanwhile, Sri Wahyu, a migrant from Central Java, chose to return to his hometown early because he did not want to be inconvenienced when the homecoming ban was imposed.

"Every year I go back to my hometown before fasting and only come back to Batam two weeks after Eid Mubarak," said Sri, who lives in Sei Beduk.

Together with her family, Sri has prepared all the homecoming needs, such as an antigen test to filling out a travel passport during the Covid-19 pandemic or e-HAC.

According to Batamnews's observation at Hang Nadim Airport, it can be seen that hundreds of passengers will depart. The implementation of health protocols seems to be neglected.

Long lines of potential passengers were also seen at the GeNose19 and antigen test service counters.