Congestion avoiding crowds and selling through drive-through method Yamagata Tsuruoka May 23 18:47

In the midst of the widespread economic impact of the new coronavirus, Tsuruoka City in Yamagata Prefecture began selling a "premium restaurant ticket" that can be used at restaurants in the city through a drive-through method. However, Tsuruoka City apologized that "the prospect was unsatisfactory" because many people visited the sales venue and there was confusion such as heavy traffic on the surrounding roads.

Tsuruoka City started selling food and beverage tickets that can be used at about 450 stores in the city and more than 30,000 sets from the 23rd.

On the first day, in order to prevent crowding, sales were carried out by a drive-through method, and at the venue Komagihara Sports Park, visitors paid through the window of the car and received a food and drink ticket.

A 31-year-old man said, "It took me a while to get into the venue and I finally bought it. There are many shops I like, so I would like to use tickets to support me."

The 10,000 sets prepared were sold out in about 4 hours, but due to the influx of citizens who were buying, multiple heavy traffic jams occurred in the city center and around the sales venue.

For this reason, Tsuruoka City canceled the planned drive-through sales on the 24th, and switched to the drawing by application for the remaining 20,000 sets.

Mayor Osamu Minagawa said at the press conference, "I am sorry for the great inconvenience caused by the poor outlook, causing a large-scale traffic jam."