Entrepreneurs Target Mal Okupancy 2023 More Than 100 Percent

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian Shopping Center Management Association (APPBI) Alphonzus Widjaja targets that the visit rate of shopping centers or malls in Indonesia in 2023 is more than 100 percent following the imposition of restrictions on community activities (PPKM) has been lifted.

"The occupancy rate has also increased in 2020, the average national visit is only 50 percent, 2021 to 60 percent and last year 70 to 80 percent. In 2023 the target is more than 100 percent, at least as before the pandemic," he said as quoted by Antara, Thursday, February 23.

When the pandemic hit, he said, the occupancy rate of shopping centers had fallen sharply, namely almost 20 percent.

Then, he continued, after the revocation of PPKM, the duration of people visiting the mall also increased to 2-3 hours, after previously during the pandemic the maximum visit time was only 1 hour.

People don't want to take long. Come shopping, come home again to reduce the risk (infected with COVID-19). But now it's increased by more than 2 hours, cinemas are busy, coffee shops are full, this is quite encouraging, "he explained.

On the other hand, he also revealed that APPBI membership increased during the pandemic, which was previously approximately 326, has now increased by almost 400.

According to him, this was driven by a directive from the previous Minister of Trade, namely Muhammad Lutfi, who asked APPBI to coordinate the implementation of Peduli Protect access at the mall.

"That's why many suddenly become members to get access to Care Protect," he said.