Association mulls 'hawker tours'

JAKARTA: The Jakarta-based Indonesian Street Vendors Association (APKLI) has proposed that the city organize "hawker center tours".

"The goal is to change the image of the street vendors, who are often blamed as the main cause in the capital's heavy traffic congestion," APKLI chairman M. Muhdi said on Sunday.

He said three locations: Taman Sari in West Jakarta; Pasar Rebo in East Jakarta; and Kemayoran in Central Jakarta would make good tourist destinations.

"The West Jakarta administration has welcomed the plan," added Muhdi, expressing the hope that the other municipalities in the city would also support it.

There are at least 141,000 street vendors operating in the city, with only around 10,000 of them under the management of the city. -- Antara