Remember, Shopping Centers Close At 19.00 WIB Starting Today

Illustration (Photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Mall entrepreneurs who are members of the Indonesian Shopping Center Management Association (APPBI) revealed that on the H-1 Natal, there was no surge in shopping centers in DKI Jakarta. This is in line with the enactment of new rules for operating time of shopping centers.

The new regulation in question is that all malls and restaurants in DKI Jakarta are required to close at 19.00 WIB starting today. This regulation aims to reduce the number of positive cases of COVID-19 during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

This is in accordance with the Governor's Instruction Number 64 of 2020 concerning the Implementation of Control of Community Activities in Prevention of COVID-19 in the Holidays of Christmas 2020 and New Year 2021, which were issued on Wednesday, December 16, 2020.

One of the things regulated in the Ingub is the limitation on the operating hours of tourism businesses and shopping centers such as malls, entertainment venues, restaurants. Especially on 24 to 27 December 2020 and 31 December 2020 to 3 January 2021, operating hours must be cut back to 19.00 WIB.

Chairperson of the APPBI Central Executive Board (DPP) Alphonzus Widjaja explained that currently shopping centers are experiencing low visits. This is indicated by the flat number of visitors who come.

"It is estimated that the level of visits to shopping centers before and during Christmas and New Year this year will not increase significantly," he said, when contacted by VOI, Thursday, December 24.

Alphonzus also said that the new regulation to close at 19.00 WIB made people reluctant to come to shopping centers. In fact, the night is the peak time for visits.

"Limitation of operating hours will reduce the number of visits to shopping centers. Afternoon and evening are favorite times for visitors, especially for dinner purposes," he explained.

Drop Mall Visit Rate of up to 70 Percent

Previously, Alphonzus said the level of visits to shopping centers ahead of Christmas this year tended to be quiet compared to 2019. This was due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

"If last year was 100 percent, this year it decreased by 60 to 70 percent. So that only 30 to 40 percent of the level of community visits is left," he said, when contacted by VOI, in Jakarta, Monday, December 21.

Alphonzus also said that not many people shop for Christmas needs because the COVID-19 outbreak is still not over and purchasing power is still in a state of decline.

According to Alphonzus, the level of visits this year will be driven more by the reason for filling the holidays, not for shopping for Christmas and New Year's needs.

Contacted separately, the Chairman of the Indonesian Shopping Center Tenants Association (Hippindo), Budihardjo Iduansjah, said there was an increase in the number of visitors and sales at the end of last week.

"In terms of sales, traffic to malls has increased from the usual 20 to 30 percent. Compared to last month there was an increase in visitors to malls," said Budi.

According to Budi, the increase in public visits at the end of last week was also driven by the Indonesia Discount Shopping Day (HBDI) which took place from 16 to 31 December.

"This is because there is a national discount shopping day event and a national discount festival so offline and online purchasing movements have increased this December," he said.

However, Budi said, the types of products that were bought were not related to the preparations for Christmas and the New Year 2021. He said, there was a shift in patterns in shopping.

"What is purchased is in terms of fashion, there is a decrease. At Christmas people usually buy clothes. But now, unlike last year, electronic products have increased. Like laptops, gadgets have increased," he explained.