Jakarta Fair surpasses targets, closes to fanfare

Jakarta Fair surpasses targets, closes to fanfare

Leony Aurora , Jakarta

The 2004 Jakarta Fair in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, ended with
smiles on organizers' faces, as 2.25 million visitors showed up
and more than Rp 300 billion (US$ 33.4 million) in transactions
were completed, far surpassing the targets.

PT Jakarta International Expo project director Ralph R.
Scheunemann said that, as of Sunday afternoon, the last day of
the fair, 210,000 people had bought tickets.

"We predict 40,000 more people will enter the fairground, as
we are open until midnight today," he said on Sunday evening.

First-time organizer PT Jakarta International Expo had aimed
to attract 2.2 million visitors and generate Rp 250 billion in
transactions.

Despite the reduced number of exhibitors taking part this year
-- only 800 participants compared with last year's 1,186 -- the
fair proved to be more successful in terms of visitors and
transactions.

In 2003, about 1.7 million people visited the fair organized
by PT Jakarta International Trade Fair and some Rp 208 billion
changed hands.

Scheunemann said that the organizer was already planning new
attractions for next year, but declined to provide details.

However, Hartati Murdaya, the president director of PT Central
Citra Murdaya, the new owner of the Jakarta Fairground, has
promised to utilize the 1,000 square meter hall D as additional
space for the 2005 fair.

The Jakarta Fair is held annually as part of the commemoration
of the city's anniversary on June 22. Small, medium-sized and
large enterprises open stalls there, offering products ranging
from electronics, furniture, clothes and cosmetics to computer
hardware.

However, as the fair usually coincides with school holidays,
many people see it more as a place of entertainment than a trade
center.

Robby, a visitor who arrived with his family, said that he
went to the fair every year to give his children a day out.

"I didn't see any difference compared with previous years. It
was pretty much the same," he said.

Even though the fair features special attractions, which this
year include the Pavilion and Negeri Dongeng (Fairyland), Robby
stayed in the children's playground. "It's too expensive to go to
the other attractions," he said.

The Pavilion gave visitors a peek at China, with the Suzhou
lantern festivals and performances of the Shaolin Kung Fu. The
entry fee per visitor for these shows was Rp 10,000 and Rp 8,000,
respectively.

Negeri Dongeng aimed to provide children with educational fun,
including competitions, creative workshops and art exhibitions.

The one-month-long fair was officially opened on June 17 by
President Megawati Soekarnoputri. Governor Sutiyoso was scheduled
to attend the closing ceremony at 11 p.m. and witness fireworks
with thousands of other Jakartans at 12 midnight sharp.

Pop stars Audy and Ari Lasso closed a string of shows on
Sunday. A total of 100 music groups and solo artists, playing all
types of music from rock to dangdut, had entertained visitors
every Wednesday night to Sunday night.

The annual Jakarta Fair was held for the first time in 1968 at
the National Monument park, Central Jakarta. Since 1991, the
event has been held at the Jakarta Fairground.