Jakartans opt to go out for New Year
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Jakarta residents appear to be eager to celebrate the New Year out of their homes as seen by the high number of reservations at restaurants, hotels, bars and a number of outdoor programs on New Year's Eve despite heightened security concerns and the economic crisis.
"Over 60 percent of tickets for the New Year's Eve celebration have been sold," said Danar, marketing coordinator of Salsa Club in Kemang, South Jakarta.
Tickets are priced at Rp 75,000 each (US$8).
Danar revealed that his restaurant targeted to secure between 300 and 350 visitors in the upcoming celebration given that it would feature special programs for the guests.
"We are optimistic that we will manage to secure the target given the strong signs of recovery recently," Danar told The Jakarta Post.
Danar was referring to the recovery from the steep downturn in incoming guests after the Bali bomb blasts on Oct. 12 which claimed more than 190 lives and injured 300 others, mostly foreigners.
Danar said many expatriates have started to visit the restaurant again, which features Latin music.
Danar said many expatriates might prefer to stay in the capital rather than traveling out of Jakarta amid security concerns.
Expatriate guests account for 50 percent of the visitors at the Salsa Club restaurant. Previously, foreigners took the lion's share of 70 percent, but it plunged sharply to only 20 percent after the Bali bombings.
"But, we must compete with around 60 other bars and restaurants here which all will feature unique attractions to lure more guests to come," said Danar.
Similarly, Sulis Tio Sukron, a supervisor at Badonci restaurant and bar, commonly frequented by expatriate youths, revealed that over 60 percent of tickets had been reserved.
"We are targeting to secure between 200 and 300 guests in the celebration titled: Time for Change, which will offer special packages, including free beer, gifts, door prizes, a billiard competition, and all-you-can-eat buffet," Sulis told The Post.
Sulis asserted that conditions had returned to normal as his bar was visited by an average of 100 guests every day, the same as the situation before the Bali blast.
Tickets will be Rp 150,000 per person, and guests are required to wear white or gold color attire to blend with the theme colors used in the celebration.
Outdoor programs include a people's festival at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle that will feature a Kuda Lumping dance, Barongsai (Chinese Lion dance) and other cultural performances.
Meanwhile, Raddin hotel in Ancol Dreamland Park in North Jakarta reported that almost 90 percent of its 292 rooms have been booked.
"Many Jakarta residents started to reserve rooms in the middle of this month," said the hotel's PR manager Ruth M. Tyas.
Citing the hotel's experience in the recent years, Ruth said the hotel was always fully booked in the last minutes of New Year's Eve.