Deputy Governor Of DKI Says Ancol Is The Cheapest Tour Compared To Universal Studios And Disneyland

Jakarta Deputy Governor Riza Patria at the launch of the new Ancol logo at Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, North Jakarta/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta Ahmad Riza Patria claims Ancol is the cheapest tourist spot from other tourist areas in the world.

However, said Riza, traveling in Ancol is indeed cheap when compared to tourist attractions such as Disneyland to Universal Studios. He conveyed this during the launch of the new Ancol logo at Ancol Dreamland Park, North Jakarta.

"Ancol is one of the cheapest tourist attractions in the world, if we compare it with Universal Studios, with Disneyland, it's very far away," said Riza, Friday, July 22.

Riza said that Ancol was originally built by former DKI Jakarta Governor Ali Sadikin in 1966. At that time, Ali was ordered directly by President Soekarno to build an integrated tourist spot.

"Pak Soekarno was inspired because he had recently returned from America to Disneyland. Then he returned to Jakarta immediately came up with the idea, and ordered Bang Ali Sadikin to build an integrated tourist area. Be the Ancol that we now see which is extraordinary, advanced, sparkling, and beautiful. extraordinary," said Riza.

Considering that Ancol is managed by a regionally owned company (BUMD) DKI PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol Tbk, Riza said the government has the principle of presenting cheap tourist attractions, at least in coastal areas that can be enjoyed by the community.

"The president director may keep counting, is this overdrawn or not, because the order from the provincial government is basically affordable, it can provide opportunities for all community groups to be present in Ancol, bringing their families," he said.

Meanwhile, the President Director of PT Pembanghnan Jaya Ancol Teuku Sahir Syahali revealed that his company is currently recovering the company's financial condition after being hit by a pandemic for more than two years ago.

"The pandemic that hit Indonesia in the last two years had quite an impact on Ancol as a company engaged in the recreation sector," said Sahir.

In 2020, Ancol experienced an operating loss of up to Rp400 billion. Then, in 2021, Ancol will still be at a loss, but less than the previous year, which was IDR 200 billion. This is due to restrictions on mobility and the weakening of the community's economic conditions.

However, Sahir stated that by mid-2022 Ancol could already reap better profits than last year.

"Until this June we have been able to record better profits. So we have been able to successfully escape the pinhole of Ancol bankruptcy. We can survive from 2020 and 2021 and this is our stage to be able to turn around, experience in facing recession and become a company better," he added.