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Jakarta still attractive as Idul Fitri holiday destination
Visits to Jakartaâs tourist destinations during this yearâs Idul Fitri holiday are expected to remain as high as they were in previous years
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isits to Jakarta's tourist destinations during this year's Idul Fitri holiday are expected to remain as high as they were in previous years. A number of tourist destinations are still selling their tickets at normal prices. The city has prepared extra facilities to maintain the safety of visitors and the cleanliness of tourist destinations.
The Ragunan zoo and the National Monument, which are managed by the city administration, for example, are swarmed over by hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to enjoy the fresh air and biodiversity. The zoos public relations division head, Wahyudi Bambang, said that approximately 150,000 visitors visit the zoo every day during the Idul Fitri holiday season. In 2010, the number of visitors reached 168,000 visitors on the third day of the Idul Fitri holiday.
According to Wahyudi, the relatively low ticket price had turned the zoo into a favored destination for residents from the middle to lower socioeconomic bracket.
'Tickets are priced at Rp 4,500 (45 US cents) for adults and Rp 3,500 for children and the amount already covers insurance. In compliance with the city administration, we will not increase the ticket price [during the Idul Fitri holidays],' he said.
Ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday, the zoo has also recruited an additional 600 outsourced workers and workers from the Indonesian Red Cross and the police.
'We don't set a specific visitor target for the Idul Fitri holidays,' he said.
Meanwhile, the number of Monas visitors during the Idul Fitri holidays is estimated to match last year's numbers. Every Idul Fitri, the monument is visited by around 5,000 to 6,000 visitors per day, a fourfold increase from the usual number of 1,500 visitors.
According to Monas public relations officer Nursamin, the monument's ticket booth will be moved in the near future to accommodate the rise in tourists. He added that the monument's visitors, whether students or the general public, immensely enjoy the recreational and educational features on offer.
A Monas visitor, Sari Linda Yuni, said that the Monas compound had become more comfortable recently because it had been rid of trash and street vendors. 'The monument is supposed to be well taken care of like this,' Sari, a teacher from Southeast Sulawesi, said.
Managers of Jakarta's tourist destinations are currently preparing a number of special programs to attract visitors during the Idul Fitri holiday. The number of visitors is predicted to increase significantly compared to regular days.
The Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) cultural center marketing manager Diyono, for example, said that his organization had already devised a diverse range of programs to welcome the Idul Fitri holiday week, which will fall from July 17 to 26. The array of programs bear the theme 'Holiday in TMII feels like coming home'.
The new concept emphasizes strong regional ambiance in all of its 33 pavilions. For example, in its Yogyakarta pavilion, it will feature distinctive Yogyakartan ornaments and artworks.
'By visiting the pavilions, visitors will feel as if they are visiting their own village,' he said. (JP)
