Fair visitors less than expected<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The number of people visiting this year's
\nJakarta Fair is falling short of expectations, raising fears that
\nthe targeted three million visitors will not be achieved.<\/p>\n
Over the first nine days, the number of visitors reached
\n425,350, lower than the 671,540 visitors over same period last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
\"Data at the ticket sale section shows that the number of
\nvisitors has plummeted this year,\" the Antara news agency
\nreported yesterday.<\/p>\n
According to the report, frequent rain and unreliable public
\ntransportation are to blame for the unsatisfactory attendance.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Fair, which is being held in Kemayoran, a popular
\npromotion arena for businesses and also cheap recreation for
\nmiddle and lower class Jakartans, was opened on June 17 and will
\nrun until July 15.<\/p>\n
Many visitors have complained that public buses like to drop
\npassengers before the buses arrive at the fair ground, as they
\nare supposed to.<\/p>\n
Visitors also find it more and more difficult to get a bus
\nhome at night, while taxi drivers refuse to use their meter and,
\ninstead, demand fares much higher than the normal.<\/p>\n
\"It seems that the city administration is unable to control
\ntaxi drivers. The Jakarta transportation agency should use its
\nauthority to overcome the problem,\" one visitor said.<\/p>\n
Data available from fair management shows that the value of
\ntransactions from June 17 through June 22 reached Rp 4.1 billion
\n(US$1.8 million). Consumer goods and soft drinks are the best
\nselling.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a 22-year-old visitor to the fair, Edy Riyadi,
\nremains unconscious at the Cempaka Putih Islam Hospital following
\na fall from the second floor of the Trade Mart building on
\nSaturday night. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fair-visitors-less-than-expected-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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