Jakarta Great Sale 2005 to start Tuesday

Jakarta shoppers, brace yourself for the month-long Jakarta Great Sale 2005 starting next week, which is part of the city's 478th anniversary celebrations.

"Shopping malls, department stores, retailers, franchise outlets, hotels, spas and restaurants will take part in the program, which is meant to introduce Jakarta as a shopping and tourist-destination city," said the organizing committee in a statement on Friday.

The program, which runs from June 14 to July 14, involves 32 malls, 112 supermarkets, 1,770 retailers, 33 hotels, three spas and 96 restaurants, the committee said.

The numbers are bigger than last year, when 23 malls, 101 supermarkets, 1,514 retails, 18 hotels, three spas and 41 restaurants took part.

The discounts on offer range from between 5 percent and 75 percent for a great range of goods and services.

The accompanying event, "A Great Salebration", will be officially opened by Governor Sutiyoso on June 18 at the Mangga Dua Square shopping center in West Jakarta.

Two North Jakarta events are also on offer: A Fashion Salebration, which will run at the Mal Kelapa Gading from June 18 to June 19, and a Food Salebration, which starts at the Mal Artha Gading from June 10 to July 17.

Native Betawi traditional food and delicacies would be on offer during the Food Salebration, the committee said.

It aimed for higher revenues and visitor numbers than the previous year, which would represent between a 15 percent and 20 percent increase.

Shoppers could also win spot door prizes, including cellular phones, travel packages to Bali and a Mercedes-Benz A Class car, the committee said. -- JP