DKI Jakarta Mall Visitors Left Bekasi And Tangerang Due To The PSBB Imposed By Anies

Illustration. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The strict volume II large-scale social restriction (PSBB) policy imposed by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) has made malls or shopping centers around Jakarta such as Depok, Bekasi, Tangerang and even Cibubur get an abundance of mall visitors from Jakarta.

Chairperson of the Indonesian Shopping Center Tenants Association (Hippindo) Budihardjo Iduansjah said this phenomenon occurred because restaurants in shopping centers in Jakarta were not allowed to accept dine-in or on-site meals. As a result, many Jakartans choose to go to malls on the outskirts of the capital.

"Yesterday on Sunday, the Tangerang and Bekasi areas were very busy. So there is indeed an overflow from Jakarta. That is automatic. When the PSBB was tight in Jakarta, yes, if the buffer areas were allowed to eat, it would definitely happen (a surge in visitors)," he said, in virtual discussions, Monday, September 28.

Meanwhile, Budi said, on weekdays or in the middle of the week there was no visible abundance of visitors from Jakarta to the buffer city. But on the weekends, the shift was inevitable. This move is expected to be filled with families who want to take a vacation on the weekend.

The lack of uniform regulations in Jabodetabek has made mall managers in Jakarta jealous. Budi said, if we both apply no -dine-in in all shopping centers in Jabodetabek, then the overflow will not occur and the spread of the virus can be suppressed.

"But the point is that those who have carried out the health protocol must be given the privilege or opportunity to keep trying. But that has not yet been fixed. So, don't all be hit equally. That is the most important thing to be voiced. We hope that in all sectors, not just shopping centers or tenants can also run health protocols, "he said.

On the same occasion, Director of Retailer Services of The Nielsen Company Indonesia, Yongky Susilo, said that one of the shopping centers in DKI Jakarta reported a decline in traffic. This is because when the strict PSBB volume II was in effect and there was a ban on dine-ins, visitors were reluctant to come to malls in Jakarta.

"Lotte Avenue reports that currently Jakarta is being tightened, shoppers and also those who want to eat out are running to the side, maybe Tangerang or Bekasi. So they think this is not fair for business people in Jakarta. This is the Lotte Shopping Avenue report," he said.

As is known, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has again implemented a strict PSBB policy volume II, along with that, dine-in or eating in place is prohibited from being done in shopping centers, restaurants or cafes in Jakarta.

However, this policy was not followed by buffer areas such as Bogor, Depok and Tangerang which still allowed dine-in with the COVID-19 health protocol.