Recreation centers report few visitors

JAKARTA: Many recreation centers across the capital were quiet on Thursday with only a few visitors to be seen despite the lingering Christmas holiday mood.

The Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII) and Ragunan Zoo, both of which are normally packed by Jakarta residents during the holidays, were much less crowded than usual, leaving many outlets devoid of visitors. No long queues were to be seen in front of the ticket booths.

A similar atmosphere prevailed in a number of recreation centers in Tangerang, Banten, with motorists heading for the area being spared the customary traffic jams.

Heru, a staffer at the Ancol Dreamland Park, revealed that the number of vacationers visiting Ancol would not exceed the number who had descended on the amusement complex over the recent Idul Fitri holidays.

"But the number of visitors will increase every night as we approach the New Year's celebrations as we will be featuring live concerts," said Heru as quoted by Antara.

On Thursday night, Ancol staged a concert featuring Slank, and Ari Lasso, Oppie Andaresta and David of Naif band.

On Friday, it will feature rock and dangdut concerts.

Meanwhile, some malls and shopping centers like the Blok M and Citra Land malls had yet to return to normal with few shoppers in evidence.--JP