Zoo books Rp 2b during holidays
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 11/01/2006 11:21 AM
JAKARTA: Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta collected Rp 2.3 billion (US$250,000) in ticket money in the first five days of the weeklong Idul Fitri holiday.
Ragunan's promotions manager Mardjuki said a total of 609,299 people had visited as of Sunday.
Entrance to the zoo costs Rp 4,000 for adults and Rp 3,000 for children.
""The price might be part of the pull factor,"" Mardjuki said.
Due to news coverage of avian influenza, the zoo only collected Rp 983 million from 694,000 visitors during the 11-day Idul Fitri holiday last year.
The zoo, which estimates its yearly operational costs at Rp 55 billion, has 40,000 to 50,000 visitors on regular days.
The zoo employs 400 additional security guards and 150 volunteers to assist its 550 staff during holidays like Idul Fitri and New Year's.
""I take my family to the zoo because it's affordable and shady with a lot of trees. At Ancol beach, it's hot and I have to pay for everything,"" a visitor, Muh Zen of Tebet, South Jakarta, said. -- JP
