Jl. Jaksa fair opens in style<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): For the fourth successive year, Jl. Jaksa, a
\nCentral Jakarta street well-known among the foreign backpacking
\nbrigade, is hosting a cultural festival.<\/p>\n
A street carnival yesterday afternoon from Hotel Sari Pan
\nPacific on Jl. M.H. Thamrin to Jl. Jaksa marked the start of the
\nfive-day Pesta Jl. Jaksa '97.<\/p>\n
Traffic quickly became heavily congested after the parade
\nconsisting of, among others, Betawi (native Jakarta) dancers and
\ntwo pairs of traditional ondel-ondel puppets and horse-carts,
\nstarted at around 3 p.m.<\/p>\n
Motorists, however, did not complain or honk at each other
\nduring the snarl as most of them watched and enjoyed the parade.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people, including many children, flocked to Jl.
\nJaksa and waited patiently for the start of the event which was
\nofficially opened by Deputy Governor of Economic and Development
\nAffairs Tb.M. Rais.<\/p>\n
Unlike previous years, this year's fair, besides presenting
\nBetawi culture and art will also feature for the first time
\nperformances from a foreign participant.<\/p>\n
"Two foreign countries, from New Zealand and South Africa,
\nwere scheduled to participate in the event, but due to unexpected
\ncircumstances, only South Africa will be present," the head of
\nthe fair's organizing committee, Fernando H. Titaley, told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
There will also be acts from other parts of Indonesia,
\nincluding performances by troupes from Ponorogo, East Java, and
\nGondang Batak, North Sumatra, he said.<\/p>\n
The fair, which is in the street famous for its inexpensive
\nhotels catering to budget visitors from overseas, ends on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
In the area, visitors can enjoy traditional Betawi food and
\ndrinks until 9 p.m.<\/p>\n
The organizers have provided 90 stands: 30 for home industry
\nproducts, 15 for food and beverages, 25 for small-scale
\nbusinesses and 20 others.<\/p>\n
However most merchandise on sale was modern and ordinary, such
\nas garments or leather products, rather than traditional local
\nhandicrafts.<\/p>\n
"This event is not only intended to boost the tourism industry
\nhere, but is also expected to help promote local businesses,"
\nFernando said.<\/p>\n
The organizers expressed optimism that more visitors would
\nvisit this year's fair than previous ones.<\/p>\n
In 1995, 40,000 visitors jammed the streets and 50,000 came
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Fernando said the fair was also aimed at extending tourists'
\nlength of stay in the city from two to five days.<\/p>\n
Data from the Central Statistics Bureau shows that the number
\nof foreign tourists visiting Jakarta tends to increase every
\nyear.<\/p>\n
In 1996, the number of foreign tourists substantially
\nincreased from 1.3 million to 1.67 million.<\/p>\n
In the first six months of this year, however, the number fell
\nto 712,022 from 815,881 from the corresponding period in 1996.
\nThe Jakarta Tourist Agency's estimate for the whole year is 1.6
\nmillion. (ste)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jl-jaksa-fair-opens-in-style-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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