The high price ticket of admission to Ancol recreational site, Pademangan, North Jakarta, is criticized by some parties. One of them is Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) Chairman, Prasetyo Edi Marsudi.

(Ancol) ticket price should be re-calculated. There have been many complaints related to its high ticket price

For information, Ancol ticket price is Rp 25,000 per person, Rp 20,000 per car, and Rp 15,000 per motorcycle. That means, if a family consists of father, mother, and two children riding on motorcycle, they must pay Rp 95,000.

“This is very burdensome, particularly for lower-income people. (Ancol) ticket price should be re-calculated. There have been many complaints related to its high ticket price. If Ancol management did not want to be left by visitors, those complaints must be followed up seriously,” stated Marsudi, Monday (12/1).

According to him, Taman Impian Jaya Ancol (TIJA) management should have accommodated people from all walks of life to have recreation by imposing an affordable ticket price. Moreover, TIJA is managed by PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, which is an enterprise owned by Jakarta Provincial Government (BUMD).

Because of the high ticket price, many people can no longer afford to enjoy recreation in Ancol. As a result, it leads to decrease in number of visitors which also effects to decrease in the earnings of traders who open businesses in Ancol area. In fact, many traders and entrepreneurs are about to go bankrupt because of scarce visitors.

“When ticket price was still Rp 7,500 per person in 2002, many people came to my stall. My earning at that time was around Rp 500 thousand on weekdays and Rp 2 million on weekends. But now, I could only gain half of it,” uttered Andi (38), one of the traders.

Responding on this matter, PT TIJA Tbk Corporate Communication Manager, Metty Yan Harahap, said that Rp 25,000 charged for ticket price is reasonable. She reasoned that the money from the ticket sales is used to preserve nature, maintain parks, as well as improve services and security. People who visit Ancol would get clean beaches with white sands, clean and free toilets, and good security.

“Which paid beaches in Indonesia that are clean and safe like in Ancol? Compare it with Tanjung Pasir Beach (Tangerang). The retribution there is not used for maintenance. Instead, we use it to preserve nature,” she told.

Based on her data, Ancol visitors are increasing every year. In this year alone, the number nearly reaches the amount of visitors last year, which was 15 million people.

“The amount of visitors keeps increasing every year. Like now, many groups of school children visit Ancol for various activities, like hajj rehearsal and outbound. We predict the number this year would increase,” she said.