Jaksa Fair organizer faces fund shortage<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The organizer of the Jaksa Fair, a three-day
\ncultural festival aimed at promoting the culture of indigenous
\nJakartans, commonly known as Betawi, is facing financial
\ndifficulties.<\/p>\n
Renaldo Tomasouw, the treasurer of the organizing committee,
\nsaid that as of yesterday, the committee had only collected Rp
\n100 million (US$46,150) of the Rp 350 million target. The money
\nhas been received from hotels located along Jl. Jaksa, a popular
\nlocation for budget tourists in Central Jakarta and the other
\nsponsors.<\/p>\n
\"It is very difficult to find companies who are willing to
\nsponsor this art event. I do not understand why,\" Renaldo said,
\nadding that the committee had asked big companies located near
\nJl. Jaksa to participate.<\/p>\n
\"We have also contacted several travel bureaus and airlines,
\nbut so far only one beer producer has shown interest in
\nparticipating.\"<\/p>\n
The Jaksa Fair, jointly organized by the Association of Jl.
\nJaksa's Tourism Industry Organizers (IKJS) in cooperation with
\nthe Jakarta Tourism Office, will be held from Aug. 5 to 7 on Jl.
\nJaksa. The fair is scheduled to be opened by Governor Surjadi
\nSoedirdja.<\/p>\n
The street festival, the first of its kind, is aimed at
\nboosting the street's fame and reviving the almost forgotten
\nculture of indigenous Jakarta residents.<\/p>\n
\"From our surveys, the average length of stay of foreign
\ntourists in hotels on Jl. Jaksa is only three days. They use
\nJakarta only as a transit point before going to Bali and other
\nplaces,\" said Ukke Kosasih, the organizing committee's programs
\ncoordinator.<\/p>\n
The 400-meter Jl. Jaksa, mentioned in almost all of guidebooks
\nfor backpackers, has 27 hotels and hostels with a total of 363
\nrooms as well as hundreds of rooms rented by area residents, six
\nrestaurants, four travel agencies, a bookstore, money changers,
\nlaundries, pubs, etc.<\/p>\n
The history<\/p>\n
Jl. Jaksa has been widely known among backpackers since the
\nlate 1960s when Nathanael Lawalata established the first hotel,
\nWisma Delima. Last year 57,201 foreign tourists visited hotels
\nand hostels in the area, including 4,215 Americans, 9,309
\nAustralians, 29,676 Europeans and 649 Africans.<\/p>\n
Hotel rates on Jl. Jaksa range from Rp 10,000 to Rp 45,000 per
\nday.<\/p>\n
The Jaksa Fair, which will take place from 4 p.m. to midnight
\non Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sunday
\nnext week, will feature Betawi music, dances and theater on three
\nstages to be built on the street.<\/p>\n
\"Visitors can also sample a variety of Betawi food sold by
\nstreet vendors, and see a photographic exposition of old Jakarta
\nand Jl. Jaksa and the Kebon Sirih area (located in the same
\nneighborhood) as they were in 1939, as well as a demonstration of
\nthe making of traditional Betawi Purnam or paper lanterns,\" Ukke
\nsaid, adding that around 10,000 people are expected to visit the
\nfestival.<\/p>\n
The fair will also feature Ondel-ondel and Rebana Ketimpring
\nparades, Sembah Nyai, Lambang Sari, Badah Khatam and Topeng Gong
\ndances, Gambang Kromong and Kroncong Tugu, Lenong Denes and
\nLenong Rumpi theaters. (als)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jaksa-fair-organizer-faces-fund-shortage-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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