KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 — Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) is expected to receive approximately 175,000 passengers throughout this year’s Deepavali festive period, a 20 per cent increase compared to the same festive season last year.

TMAS Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Shazwan Mohammad said the figure is expected to be recorded over a seven-day period starting yesterday until November 11, with an average of about 25,000 passengers per day.

He said that to ensure smooth operations during the period, TMAS as the operator of TBS will add personnel, including hiring part-time staff to assist with operational smoothness at TBS.

“We are also asking online ticket agents (OTAs) to send their own personnel to facilitate matters for passengers who purchase tickets through their respective platforms,” he said at a media session with Bernama at TBS here today.

Shazwan said TBS also expects a total of 10,000 bus departures and more than 4,000 bus arrivals throughout the period.

He said the surge in demand is also influenced by school holidays and the presence of foreign tourists who purchase tickets at the last minute.

He noted that routes to the East Coast are among those in high demand, and tickets to several destinations have even sold out as of this morning, though additional trips will be opened to accommodate demand.

Regarding ticket management, Shazwan said all ticket sales and travel information must be communicated to the terminal in accordance with the new Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) policy which came into effect on November 1.

He said the policy does not affect online ticket purchases; instead, the coordination of such information helps the terminal manage travel schedules and bus departures.

According to him, out of the average 18,000 tickets sold daily on ordinary days, about 4,000 are purchased via the terminal’s portal while the rest are through external platforms.

In the meantime, Shazwan reminded passengers who purchase tickets through OTAs to ensure they receive a QR-coded boarding pass to enter the departure lounge and board the bus.

He said tickets purchased through these platforms sometimes do not include the pass due to system differences between the OTA service providers and the terminal, thereby complicating information coordination and the issuance of boarding passes.

“Passengers who have not received a QR code need to contact the OTA where they purchased their tickets to obtain a boarding pass, but the process can take time if the travel information has not yet been entered into the terminal’s system,” he said.

Shazwan suggested purchasing tickets via the TBS app or website as well as the ticket kiosks available at the terminal and advised passengers to arrive earlier during the festive season, taking into account traffic conditions, terminal congestion, and the extra time needed to complete boarding pass procedures, especially for purchases that did not come with a departure QR code. — Bernama