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IN ALMOST the past year, tourism in the country has been paralyzed by the pandemic storm. Tourism has turned into a sector with poor performance from the beginning, which is expected to be the locomotive of the national economy.
This is normal considering that tourism is about the movement of people so that when mobility is restricted to keep the pace of the pandemic, the sector collapses. However, along with various accurate strategies to deal with the endless COVID-19 pandemic, bright spots are starting to emerge.
The government, one of which, through the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, collaborates and synergizes with various parties to find solutions so that the tourism sector will immediately rise. By cooperating with the National Police of the Republic of Indonesia (Polri), it is certain that the best ways to travel are safe.
The National Police themselves welcomed and acknowledged that Indonesia has tremendous potential in the tourism sector. This can be seen from the contribution of the tourism sector to the nation’s economy, including in terms of the number of foreign tourist visits to Indonesia which has increased significantly from 10.41 million (2015), up to 12.01 million (2016), 14.04 million (2017), and 15.81 million (2018).
For this reason, the National Police has expressed its support for efforts to reopen tourism objects in the country, especially in a number of Super Priority Tourism Destinations (DPSP) in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, by implementing strict and disciplined health protocols.
“Tourism is stretching, the economy is rising. But don’t forget, obey health protocols,” said the Head of the Police Public Relations Division (Kadiv), Inspector General of Police. Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono, S.I.K., M.Si, in his written speech.
A number of stakeholders also gathered to discuss “The stretching of the Super Priority Tourism Destinations in the Middle of the Pandemic” including Haryadi Sukamdani (Chairperson of APINDO), Sonny Harry B. Harmadi (Head of Behavior Change for the COVID-19 Task Force), Dr. Ir. Hari Santoso Sungkar (Deputy of Destinas and Infrastructure Development at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy); and Brigadier General Pol. Suhendri, S.H., S.I.K. (Dirpamobvit Korsabhara Baharkam Polri).
Depends on Vaccination
No one knows when the COVID-19 pandemic will end. As stated by the Chairperson of APINDO Haryadi Sukamdani, who stated that the COVID-19 pandemic in the past year has devastated the tourism sector in the country. In April 2020, the number of foreign tourists fell 87.44% from the previous year. While the room occupancy rate is below 12.67%, restaurants are mostly closed, and tourism destinations are temporarily closed.
The foundation of tourism recovery is the gradual recovery of domestic tourists (wisnus) and foreign tourists and the opening of Bali as a world tourism brand with strict health and hygiene protocols.
However, the Chairperson of APINDO sees a great potential for the revival of the tourism sector in 2021, where the parties who originally held back “spending” in 2020 will spend it in 2021 in conditions of handling the pandemic accompanied by the implementation of vaccinations in the community.
Therefore, according to Haryadi Sukamdani, the factor that has become a “game changer” for the revival of the tourism sector in Indonesia is the success of the mass vaccination against COVID-19. I also believe that if vaccination is successful, tourism recovery will be faster, and vice versa.
Meanwhile, the Deputy for Destination and Infrastructure Development at the Ministry of Tourism, Hari Santoso Sungkar, added that there is a trend of changing tourism destination patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently there is a tendency for open air tourism to be preferred by tourists. Therefore, I then conveyed that the government was trying to make innovations to adapt to tourism development during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Strategic Steps
The government through the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has also taken steps to implement six strategic steps to accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector and creative economy in Indonesia. The first strategy is related to the tourism grant stimulus program.
In 2020, the Ministry of Tourism provided a stimulus in the tourism sector and creative economy of IDR3.3 trillion with a realization rate of 69.63%. Of these funds, 30% will go to the local government and 70% to hotel and restaurant entrepreneurs.
The stimulus program which will be issued this year is still in the discussion stage, and we will provide an update on how many it is and also in terms of when it will be realized. Of course, this year’s stimulus aims to save players in the tourism & creative economy sector, because there are as many as 34 million people who depend on this sector for their livelihoods.
Second, the application of the “free covid corridor” or what is currently called the “travel corridor arrangement” which is currently in the finalization stage. Because in opening this border, we must really pay attention to the health aspect as a priority.
Third, the development of KEK (Special Economic Zones). During his working visit some time ago, the Tourism Ministry had visited the Likupang KEK, North Sulawesi. The phase I area of the Likupang SEZ is located on an area of 92.89 hectares with an investment value of nearly IDR1 trillion. Includes resorts, utilities, commercial areas, lakes, as well as green open spaces. The total investment value is estimated to attract IDR5 trillion in investment by 2040. The target of this SEZ is to drive an economy based on incentives for government policies.
Furthermore, the four Ministries of Tourism will facilitate an “on boarding” digitalization program for creative economy actors. In 2020, the “on boarding” program will reach 4 million participants. Meanwhile, in 2021, the Ministry of Tourism wants this program to reach 10-15 million tourism players and the creative economy. This on boarding program aims to improve capabilities and competencies, not only to scale up human resources, but also to encourage tourism human resources and the creative economy to produce quality products.
Then, the five development of Tourism Village, which is part of the most important pillars of tourism development and the creative economy in the future. Because, the Ministry of Tourism does not want this tourism to be exclusive, but inclusive.
According to the 2020-2024 Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMN), the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy targets 244 certified tourist villages to become independent tourism villages by 2024. Of the 224 tourist villages, 150 tourist villages are in 5 Super Priority Destinations and will be expanded.
This program must cover tourism villages in each of the super priority destinations. And it is hoped that this tourist village will be able to improve the community’s economy and create jobs. And of course, the development of a tourist village emphasizes the sustainable aspect.
Finally, the six vaccinations for tourism and creative economy players, which are currently still running. This vaccination program will later be expanded to various destinations in Indonesia and carried out in stages. Apart from Bali Province, the Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi (Jabodetabek) area also receives priority for vaccine recipients. Vaccination will indeed change the map of the pandemic to become less and less if it is successful, but health protocols must be maintained properly.
In the end, Sonny Harry B. Harmadi, Head of Behavior Change for the COVID-19 Task Force, stated that the tourism industry had been prepared to receive tourist visits. However, it needs community support by continuing to change 3M-appropriate behavior for safer, more comfortable, healthier, and more sustainable tourism.
He recalled the health protocol at tourist sites, including forming a task force at each tourist location; setting up temporary isolation rooms; understand first aid procedures; ensure compliance with 3M health protocols.
Then the manager prepares a sink and hand washing soap; put up 3M reminder posters/stickers; maintain cleanliness of tourist attractions; and ensuring the implementation of Cleanliness, Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability (CHSE) in tourist attractions.
It is good news when a number of agencies, including the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), Polri, and Local Government, work together to oversee the implementation of health protocols in tourist attractions in order to regain the pace of a sector that has so far sheltered more than 30 million workers across the country. [antaranews/phot special]
