Jakarta. Shopping activity at Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta has surged in recent weeks as Indonesians prepare for the 2026 Eid al-Fitr holiday, with daily visitor numbers rising sharply as the festive season approaches.

Hery Supriyatna, manager of Tanah Abang Block A, said the increase in foot traffic began last week and is expected to continue until around March 19. The market is now seeing around 60,000 to 70,000 visitors per day, far above the typical daily average of 15,000 to 20,000 people.

“Since last week, visitor traffic has become very busy. Currently we estimate around 60,000 to 70,000 visitors per day, significantly higher than normal,” Hery said on Thursday.

Tanah Abang Block A, known as Southeast Asia’s largest textile and garment trading center, traditionally attracts a surge of shoppers ahead of Eid as people look for new clothes for the holiday. Many visitors come from across the Greater Jakarta area.

The complex houses around 5,900 traders, selling a wide range of goods including Muslim fashion, children’s clothing, adult apparel, and other holiday-related items.

According to Hery, wholesale buyers typically begin placing orders two to three months before Eid, many of them coming from outside the Greater Jakarta region. During Ramadan and the weeks leading up to Eid, however, most shoppers are retail customers from Jabodetabek buying clothing and fashion items for the holiday.

Despite the large number of visitors, traders say sales have not been as strong as in previous years. Weaker economic conditions are believed to be dampening consumer spending.

Hery said shoppers are still making purchases, but buying fewer items than before.

“The value of their purchases may decline due to the current economic conditions. It’s not that people come here just to look around — visitors to Tanah Abang usually do shop, but they are buying less,” he said, adding that the trend has been observed over the past three years.

Although the market management does not have precise data on daily transaction values, Hery estimated that each stall generates around Rp 1 million to Rp 2 million ($60–$120) in daily revenue on average.

With around 5,900 stalls operating in Block A, the total daily circulation of money at the market during the pre-Eid shopping period could reach between Rp 5.9 billion and Rp 11.8 billion.

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