The holiday mood has remained even after the government revised the previously established collective leave days for Christmas and New Year. In a statement on Tuesday, the government announced it had cut the long holiday from the initial 11 days to eight days and had created two sets of long weekends, one from Dec. 24 to Dec. 27 and the other from Dec. 31 to Jan. 3, 2021.

The day off on Dec. 31, the government said, would substitute for the Idul Fitri leave that was foregone in May because of virus restrictions.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo instructed the reduction in the year-end holiday because of concerns about spikes in COVID-19 transmission, which have occurred after previous long weekends. The impact of the latest long weekend in late October, for example, is still being felt in places such as Central Java, a popular destination for holidaymakers, which has been recording more than 1,000 cases every day.

National COVID-19 task force chief Doni Monardo had suggested that the government revoke the year-end collective leave entirely if confirmed cases continued to increase. Doni’s advice has clearly fallen on deaf ears as the two long weekends remain intact despite the fact that infection rates have been rising.

This is not the first time the government has been unwilling to confine people to their homes during holidays. It ended up quietly acquiescing to the Idul Fitri tradition of mudik (exodus) in May because of the sensitivity of the issue.

But even if the government cancels the collective leave entirely, there is no guarantee that people will refrain from traveling for Christmas and New Year. People will offer a bevy of excuses to carry on with their vacation plans.

State railway company PT KAI opened online ticket booking one month ahead of Christmas for major destinations in Yogyakarta, Surakarta and Surabaya, while airline companies have opened new routes and increased their flights.

Popular tourist destinations such as Bali and Yogyakarta have been gearing up for tourist arrivals, albeit with some restrictions. Yogyakarta, for example, has banned New Year parties that draw large crowds.

The supply follows the demand. Tourism industry players know tourists will come soon and need to be cared for. Yoyakarta Deputy Mayor Heroe Poerwadi said the local government, while welcoming guests, would intensify patrols, particularly during New Year, to make sure everybody complied with the health protocols, considering the rise in cases in the city.

Not all tourist destination cities will open their arms to holidaymakers. West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil has advised people not to visit the provincial capital of Bandung, which has been designated a COVID-19 red zone.

Traveling during a pandemic is a challenge and has undeniable risks, but who will be able to resist the chance to celebrate New Year away from home?