Ahead Of Christmas, Tanah Abang Market Is Quiet For Visitors

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - Tanah Abang Market in Central Jakarta looks empty of visitors on two days before Christmas 2023, Saturday, December 23 morning

Antara reported that at around 9.00 WIB, the footpath to Blok A Tanah Abang looked deserted. On the right and left sides of the road, there are many traders who have just opened and prepared their merchandise.

Amel, one of the food traders at the market, admitted that such an atmosphere has become a daily sight since the COVID-19 pandemic began to hit Indonesia in 2020.

"Yes, it's normal, it's quiet. But before Corona was different, it was very different. It used to be very crowded. Now it's normal," he said, who had just come to his place of sale at around 9.20 WIB.

Amel said the atmosphere was quiet not only before Christmas. Before Eid al-Fitr 2022, he said, the atmosphere at Tanah Abang Market was mediocre.

Such an atmosphere, according to him, was much different from the market atmosphere before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Indonesia in 2020, which caused more visitors to switch to shopping online.

Yanto, one of the other food traders, said that visitors at Tanah Abang Market usually start to flock around 11.00-13.00 WIB.

"Yes, if it's still quiet in the morning, it's just starting to get busy at 1 (13.00 WIB)," he said.

Meanwhile, traders will usually start closing their wares at around 15.00-16.00 WIB.