Jaksa Fair organizer faces fund shortage

Jaksa Fair organizer faces fund shortage

JAKARTA (JP): The organizer of the Jaksa Fair, a three-day
cultural festival aimed at promoting the culture of indigenous
Jakartans, commonly known as Betawi, is facing financial
difficulties.

Renaldo Tomasouw, the treasurer of the organizing committee,
said that as of yesterday, the committee had only collected Rp
100 million (US$46,150) of the Rp 350 million target. The money
has been received from hotels located along Jl. Jaksa, a popular
location for budget tourists in Central Jakarta and the other
sponsors.

"It is very difficult to find companies who are willing to
sponsor this art event. I do not understand why," Renaldo said,
adding that the committee had asked big companies located near
Jl. Jaksa to participate.

"We have also contacted several travel bureaus and airlines,
but so far only one beer producer has shown interest in
participating."

The Jaksa Fair, jointly organized by the Association of Jl.
Jaksa's Tourism Industry Organizers (IKJS) in cooperation with
the Jakarta Tourism Office, will be held from Aug. 5 to 7 on Jl.
Jaksa. The fair is scheduled to be opened by Governor Surjadi
Soedirdja.

The street festival, the first of its kind, is aimed at
boosting the street's fame and reviving the almost forgotten
culture of indigenous Jakarta residents.

"From our surveys, the average length of stay of foreign
tourists in hotels on Jl. Jaksa is only three days. They use
Jakarta only as a transit point before going to Bali and other
places," said Ukke Kosasih, the organizing committee's programs
coordinator.

The 400-meter Jl. Jaksa, mentioned in almost all of guidebooks
for backpackers, has 27 hotels and hostels with a total of 363
rooms as well as hundreds of rooms rented by area residents, six
restaurants, four travel agencies, a bookstore, money changers,
laundries, pubs, etc.

The history

Jl. Jaksa has been widely known among backpackers since the
late 1960s when Nathanael Lawalata established the first hotel,
Wisma Delima. Last year 57,201 foreign tourists visited hotels
and hostels in the area, including 4,215 Americans, 9,309
Australians, 29,676 Europeans and 649 Africans.

Hotel rates on Jl. Jaksa range from Rp 10,000 to Rp 45,000 per
day.

The Jaksa Fair, which will take place from 4 p.m. to midnight
on Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to midnight on Sunday
next week, will feature Betawi music, dances and theater on three
stages to be built on the street.

"Visitors can also sample a variety of Betawi food sold by
street vendors, and see a photographic exposition of old Jakarta
and Jl. Jaksa and the Kebon Sirih area (located in the same
neighborhood) as they were in 1939, as well as a demonstration of
the making of traditional Betawi Purnam or paper lanterns," Ukke
said, adding that around 10,000 people are expected to visit the
festival.

The fair will also feature Ondel-ondel and Rebana Ketimpring
parades, Sembah Nyai, Lambang Sari, Badah Khatam and Topeng Gong
dances, Gambang Kromong and Kroncong Tugu, Lenong Denes and
Lenong Rumpi theaters. (als)