Affected By The Development Of IKN Nusantara, The Number Of Mall Developers In Balikpapan Superblock Jalank

Photo: Doc. Wulandari Bangun Laksana

JAKARTA - The government's success in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and the construction of the National Capital (IKN) of the Archipelago in East Kalimantan Province, has a positive impact on economic growth in the city of Balikpapan. One indicator can be seen from the increase in the number of mall visitors in the region.

According to Tjia Daniel Wirawan, Operations Director of PT Wulandari Bangun Laksana Tbk (BSBK), the number of visitors who came to eWalk and Pentacity, two malls owned by the company experienced a significant increase. If in 2021, the average number of visitors to malls is around 406,211 people per month, currently the average reaches 573,122 visitors per month.

This figure increased by 34.2 percent. The number of visitors to the Pentacy mall in 2021 is on average 347,471 people per month. Meanwhile, until 2022, the figure has increased by 57.2 percent to an average of 546,110 visitors per month.

Tjia said that the occupancy of the mall eWalk reached 95.89 percent of the leaseable area covering an area of 27,790.95 m2. Meanwhile, the occupancy of the Pentacy mall was 82.24 percent of the leaseable area of 40,943.44 m2.

The brands that have entered the two BSBK malls are brands that are very popular with people in big cities. Among them are Uniqlo, HnM, KKV and many others.

"It is an honor for BSBK because the brand is currently only in the Balikpapan Superblock area in Balikpapan," said Tjia, in a written statement, Wednesday, December 14.

In the near future, continued Tjia, there will be additional new tenants. It's like Imperial Kitchen & Dimsum, Hokben, Sport Station Mega Store, Crocs, and New Era. The presence of these new tenants is believed to be able to boost the number of mall visitors.

Not only that, to encourage an increase in the number of mall visitors, Wulandari Bangun Laksana also conducted a soft opening for the launch of the Pentacy Hotel in the Balikpapan Super Block (BSB) area on Thursday, December 7. The new hotel, which has 176 rooms, is supported by a number of special facilities such as a magnificent lobby.

"This makes BSBK has the area with the highest number of hotel rooms in East Kalimantan. The number of rooms in the Balikpapan Superblock area reaches 782 rooms consisting of Grand Jatra Hotels, Astara Hotels, J-Icon hotels, and Pentacity Hotels," said Tjia.

Tjia mengungkapkan, jika melihat potensi kenaikan jumlah pengunjung pada kawasan Balikpapan Superblock dan dalam rangka mengantisipasi penambahan jumlah penduduk di IKN Nusantara, maka manajemen BSBK berencana mengembangkan pusat perbelanja ke-3 di kawasan BSB.

The plan, said Tjia, is that the 3rd mall has a leaseable area of around 23,400 m2 with the concept of 'Shop, Dine & Leisure' themed beach walk and dock. Visitors to this mall will be spoiled with beautiful sea views and sunsets.

This mall will also be filled by international fashion tenants, supermarkets and F&B. The presence of this mall is to complete the two existing BSBK malls. With the presence of this third mall, the total leaseable three malls in the Balikpapan Superblock area reached 92,134.39 m2.

"With the addition of new mall facilities, PT. Wulandari Bangun Laksana, Tbk (BSBK) believes this area will increasingly become a magnet for Balikpapan residents and cities around East Kalimantan," concluded Tjia.