Jakarta Fair 2003 proving venue for family relaxation
Jakarta Fair 2003 proving venue for family relaxation
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Risqi, 4, appeared elated while posing for photographs with
two gigantic statues of a couple clad in native Jakartan, or
Betawi, attire.
"Hold their hands and smile, dear," said her father, Santosa,
while taking her picture.
Risqi's family, from Bogor in West Java, is among thousands of
people expected to visit the month-long Jakarta Fair 2003, which
opened on Thursday.
"It's really nice entertainment for all of my family members.
I can see the latest edition of various products like electronics
or motorcycles. My wife can look at new household appliances, and
I can buy snacks and dolls for the kids," Santosa told The
Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Another family of 10 people from Jembatan Tiga in West
Jakarta, including three toddlers and a grandmother in a
wheelchair, were also seen enjoying themselves at the fair in
Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.
Most of the visitors came in groups with their family members
and other relatives.
The fair, held annually since 1968 when Jakarta was led by
popular governor Ali Sadikin, remains a magnet for Jakartans,
with over 95,800 visitors since the opening four days ago. There
were 108,000 visitors during the first four days last year.
The fair is meant to be part entertainment and part trade
promotion for local companies.
When the Jakarta Fair was first held at Monas (National
Monument Park) 35 years ago, it attracted more than 1.4 million
visitors and involved 161 participants.
The fair venue was later moved in 1992 from Monas to the
former Kemayoran air field. Since the early 1990s, the city
administration authorized the Jakarta International Trade Fair
(JITF), owned by businessman Edward Soerjadjaja, to organize the
event.
Alan Taufiq Hidayat, a spokesman for this year's fair, said
the organizer expects two million visitors overall and projects
Rp 200 billion worth of transactions.
Last year, the fair managed to attract 1.6 million visitors
and generate Rp 180 billion, he added.
"We hope the number of visitors will peak by the end of this
month, thanks to long school holidays later in June," said Alan.
A huge number of visitors are expected to flock to the fair
next Saturday, when it features popular dangdut singer Inul
Daratista, known for her rapid-fire, hip-shake movements and
pelvic thrusts.