Sekaten entry cost up by 20 percent

Sekaten entry cost up by 20 percent

YOGYAKARTA: The increase in fuel prices at the beginning of
March has apparently influenced the entertainment sector in the
city.

The organizing committee of the annual traditional event of
Sekaten night market to be held from March 11 to April 22 at
Alun-Alun Utara (northern square), for example, has recently
announced that it would raise the entry ticket by some 20 percent
on last year's price.

Last year, entry to the Jogja Expo Sekaten or JES, as the
event is now named, was Rp 2,500 on weekdays and Rp 3,500 on
weekends. It has now risen to Rp 3,000 and Rp 4,000
consecutively.

"We have to adjust to the increase in the prices of other
commodities," JES 2005 chairman Subarkah said earlier this week.

Subarkah added that unlike previously, there would not be a
door prize at this year's event. Instead, the organizing
committee would double the insurance allocation from Rp 50
previously to Rp 100 currently, taken from the ticket price.

That way, compensation payable to Sekaten visitors who sustain
an accident or death would also be doubled.

If previously the claim for injured visitors was Rp 4 million
it is now Rp 8 million. For death cases, the claim is now Rp 6
million, while it was previously Rp 3 million per case.

Subarkah said there would be few changes to the event itself.
As last year, the municipal government will hire event organizer
Citra Pamerindo, which will offer air-conditioned tents for
companies wishing to participate in JES 2005.

Last year's event generated for the municipal government an
income of Rp 125 million. "We hope to raise at least the same
amount from this year's event," Tri Djoko, also of the organizing
committee, said. -- JP