Jakartans flock to West, Central Java for APEC holidays<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of Jakartans fled to West Java's major
\ntourist destinations, such as Bandung and Carita, and even as far
\nas Semarang, in Central Java, and Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
The out-of-season visitors who booked hotels, strolled along
\nstreets and browsed in shopping centers were Jakartans trying to
\nmake the most of the government's decision to declare Monday and
\nTuesday public holidays.<\/p>\n
Congestion being one of the capital's major headaches, the
\ndecision to declare a holiday was made to reduce traffic so as to
\nfacilitate the smooth run of transporting APEC delegates between
\nthe conference venues and hotels where they are staying.<\/p>\n
Besides visiting tourist destinations, many Jakartans are
\nusing this opportunity to visit relatives in their ancestral
\nhometowns.<\/p>\n
The hordes of Jakartans visiting Bandung, the capital city of
\nWest Java, have caused traffic jams in the city's main streets,
\nsuch as Jl. Cihampelas, Jl. Lingkar Selatan, Jl. Sudirman and Jl.
\nSetiabudi and also around tourist sites.<\/p>\n
According to data from local police, there were around 50,000
\ncars with Jakarta number plates in Bandung on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Antara news agency reported that many Jakartans also traveled
\nto the city by train even though there was standing room only.
\nAll seats were sold out several days earlier.<\/p>\n
Hotels in Bandung, from five-star such as Panghegar and
\nHorison, to middle and low range such as those on Jl. Pasirkaliki
\nand Kebonjati, were fully booked.<\/p>\n
\"The visitors mostly booked rooms for four days starting
\nFriday,\" Nina, a hotel manager in Bandung, told the news agency.<\/p>\n
The West Java coast is also filled with Jakartans. Around 100
\nhotels in Merak, Anyer, Cinangka and Carita have been fully
\nbooked since Saturday.<\/p>\n
Cottages, villas and houses were booked by those desiring
\nrecreation after a mundane week of work.<\/p>\n
Hotel occupancy rates jumped from an average of only 35
\npercent to 99 percent over the long weekend.<\/p>\n
People are also renting rooms in houses owned by locals, who
\nhave doubled rates from Rp 10,000 (US$4.57) to Rp 20,000 per day.<\/p>\n
City cars<\/p>\n
Parking lots in hotels and guest houses near tourist sites
\naround Yogyakarta are full of cars with Jakarta number plates.
\nThe guests have mostly booked rooms for three days ending
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
\"I'm using the holiday to visit Yogyakarta with my family,\"
\nSulistyo, an employee of a private company in Jakarta, said as
\nquoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Malioboro, the famous street in downtown Yogyakarta, was full
\nof visitors buying handicrafts. \"I have sold lots of handicrafts
\nover the last two days because there are a lot of tourists,\" said
\nAndi, a vendor.<\/p>\n
This unexpected influx of tourists has caused traffic jams in
\nstreets in the Malioboro area.<\/p>\n
Jakartans who originate from Central Java were seen milling in
\nTerboyo bus terminal and Tawang railway station in Semarang
\nwaiting for buses to other small towns in the province.<\/p>\n
Antara estimated that the number of passengers who traveled by
\nboth bus and train is 30 percent higher than on other days.<\/p>\n
The activity at Achmad Yani airport in Semarang increased due
\nto the extra number of passengers from Jakarta. Mandala Airlines,
\none of Indonesia's private airline companies, has provided
\nadditional flights to meet the demand.<\/p>\n
The local authorities have decided to increase the number of
\npublic transport vehicles with the aim of preventing anyone
\ntrying to return to Jakarta from getting stranded.<\/p>\n
An officer at Bandung railway station said the state-owned
\nrailway company Perumka had decided to provide additional train
\ncarriages.<\/p>\n
Tickets for trains plying Semarang-Jakarta on Monday were sold
\nout by Saturday. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakartans-flock-to-west-central-java-for-apec-holidays-1447893297",
"image": ""
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