City's Entertainment Venues Asked to Shut Down during Ramadan and Eid

All entertainment venues in Jakarta have been instructed to shut down operations starting from one day before the fasting month and Eid as well as one day later. 

It has been stated in Gubernatorial Regulation No. 18/2018 on Tourism Business and Circular Letter No. 162/2019 on Operation Time for Tourism Industry in Ramadan and Eid 1440 Hijri/2019 M

"It has been stated in Gubernatorial Regulation No. 18/2018 on Tourism Business and Circular Letter No. 162/2019 on Operation Time for Tourism Industry in Ramadan and Eid 1440 Hijri/2019 M," said Jakarta Tourism and Culture Agency Head, Edy Junaedi, Sunday (5/5).

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Those entertainment venues are nightclubs, discotheques, steam baths, massage houses and bars or those found in these types of tourism businesses.

Yet the night entertainment business whose operating hours are adjusted during Ramadan namely, executive karaoke and pubs which can open at 8.30 PM-1.30 AM and family karaoke at 2 PM-2 AM.

"Then for billiards inside karaoke and pubs can open at 8.30 PM-1.30 AM and independent billiards can open at 10 AM-11 PM," he expressed.

To optimize its rules, each of them has been attached to a sticker. Nevertheless the number of tourists keeps being increased.

"Last March, we managed to absorb 2,480,350 tourists and increased by 2,737,636 tourists in April. Then for foreign tourist, its number reached 219,500 in March," he told. 

It is directly proportional to the increase in local income (PAD) from the tourism sector. In April, it increased up to seven percent compared to achievement in March.

He added that the highest regional income is from restaurant tax by Rp 292,926,123,612, followed by hotel tax Rp 148,038.601,492, and entertainment tax Rp 71,992,198,038.

"We want its amount continues to increase which can be achieved through bukber tradition 'break the fast together' so it will increase income of restaurant tax," he explained.

Jakarta Entertainment Entrepreneurs Association Chairman, Hana Suryani uttered that her side supports the city government's policy.

"We support it and ask our members to obey it," he told.

To optimize it, internal supervision will also be applied.

"Surely we want to involve it by conducting a sudden inspection. This aims to maintain the good name of the entertainment business in Jakarta," she stressed.

As for the information, according to Circular Letter No. 162/2019, each violator will be subject to sanctions ranging from written warning until revocation of tourism business certification (TDUP).

It also reminded that the entertainment business is free from drug practices, prostitution and gambling.