Jakarta's Free Entry Policy Draws Record Crowds to Ancol and Ragunan

The weekend atmosphere in Jakarta felt different as the Ancol Dreamland and Ragunan Zoo were packed with residents taking advantage of the public holiday to enjoy time with family and friends. From the morning, both destinations were filled with visitors eager to experience the various rides, green open spaces, and diverse recreational activities. The surge in public enthusiasm was driven by the Jakarta Provincial Government’s free admission policy in celebration of the city’s 499th anniversary, leading to long queues of vehicles at the entrances to both Ancol and Ragunan.

At Ancol’s East Gate, a mix of four-wheeled and two-wheeled vehicles created a tailback stretching approximately 200 metres. Officers on duty attempted to manage the congestion by directing car users to enter via the Carnaval Gate, with loudspeaker announcements urging visitors to switch gates to avoid the queues. Crowds were also visible at the pedestrian entrance, with the majority of visitors arriving with their families. Erwin, a 34-year-old visitor from Bekasi, said he came with his family specifically to take advantage of the free admission programme and planned to watch the sunset at the beach. Corporate Communication Manager of PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol Tbk, Daniel Windriatmoko, confirmed that by 15.00 WIB, more than 62,000 people had visited Ancol, with the free admission programme dominating the turnout. He noted that visitor numbers were up by more than 50 per cent compared to a typical weekend, which usually sees around 40,000 guests.

Meanwhile, the road leading to Ragunan from Jati Padang, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, experienced severe congestion, with a queue of vehicles stretching approximately 1.5 kilometres from the Pasar Minggu Regional Hospital intersection to the Ragunan entrance. Private cars, motorcycles, tourist buses, and Transjakarta buses were all caught in the traffic. Bambang Wahyudi, Public Relations for Ragunan, reported that by 17.00 WIB, the zoo had recorded 135,500 visitors, the highest single-day figure of the year, surpassing even the Eid holiday peak of 103,000. He attributed the record numbers to the combination of the free admission programme and the school holiday period. The most popular attractions were the Schmutzer Primate Centre and the enclosures for elephants and giraffes, which drew large crowds for their unique and photogenic animals.