The first Jogja Halal Fest took place October 11–14, 2018 at Jogja Expo Center. Towards the closing, the committee said that around 31 thousand visitors had attended and tenant transactions reached approximately IDR 10 billion over four days.
These notes show that halal festivals have appeal as spaces for shopping, entertainment, education and community gatherings. Visitors not only follow the stage agenda, but also interact directly with hundreds of tenants from various categories.
Around 31 thousand visitors and transactions of approximately IDR 10 billion were reported by the committee towards the close of the four day event.
Transactions during the event are the most easily visible impact. For MSMEs, direct sales help speed up stock turnover and introduce products to new consumers in a short time.
However, the benefits of exhibitions do not only come from turnover at the checkout. Business actors can test price, packaging, taste, product presentation and visitor response. The conversations that occur at the booth become a source of input that can be used to improve the product after the festival.
The large number of visitors gives confidence to potential tenants, sponsors and partners that Yogyakarta has a consumer base that is interested in a halal lifestyle. This reputation became capital when the festival was planned to return for the next edition.
At the same time, transaction figures need to be read carefully. The available archives come from committee reports quoted by the media and have not been completed with an independent audit. Transparency regarding the source of figures is important so that historical achievements can be communicated responsibly.
In the future, impact measurement can be expanded by recording transactions per category, number of business leads, post-event partnerships, increased certification, as well as participant growth in the following months. That way, success doesn't stop with the crowds during the festival.