During the approaching school holidays, the 2008 Jakarta Fair is aiming to attract a record number of visitors, from June 12 to July 13 at the Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

Jakarta Fair committee chairwoman Hartati Murdaya said here on Monday the event was expected to attract some three million visitors this year -- 500,000 more than last year.

The 100,000-square-meter fairground would be filled with around 2,000 participating companies, she said, ranging from car makers to food and beverage producers and sporting goods manufacturers.

Workers race against time to complete the construction of booths at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Monday. The annual Jakarta Fair will kick off on June 12 to commemorate the capital’s 481st anniversary. (JP/J. Adiguna)

The fair, commemorating the city's 481st anniversary, would open between 3.30 and 10 p.m., Monday to Thursday; 3.30 to 11 p.m., Friday; and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends. Entrance fees from Monday to Friday will be Rp 15,000 (US$1.6) and Rp 20,000 on weekends.

"We have decided to keep the ticket price the same as last year because, considering the government only just increased fuel prices, we don't want to burden the public," Hartati said.

The fair would feature popular entertainers, and a replica of Borobudur temple which visitors can pose in front of -- as if they were at the original in Central Java.

To make getting to the fair easier, the committee and city administration have made arrangements to provide a shuttle service (using TransJakarta buses) from the National Monument (Monas) parking area in Central Jakarta, Jakarta Fair committee deputy chairman Slamet Supriadi said.

The buses, he said, would go from Monas to Jakarta Fairground via Gambir, past Istiqlal mosque and Jl. Juanda, before going to Jl. Garuda, Jl. Benyamin Sueb and stopping at the Gambir Expo shelter.

"The shuttle bus service is free of charge," he said.

Aside providing entertainment and attractions, the committee would hold a bazaar for recipients of government cash aid. People buying food products at the bazaar must show their cash aid identity cards.

"We'll encourage food producer exhibitors to participate in the market," Hartati said.

Hartati expects this year's fair to gain some Rp 2 trillion, a slight increase from last year's Rp 1.7 trillion.

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