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PRESIDENT Joko Widodo’s optimism when he came to the “island of tourism” in Bali on March 16, 2021 seemed to bring “fresh air” to the people of the Island of the Gods, especially since the President called “Re-Open Border” Bali through a series of stages that were quite patterned and sustainable.
The “Re-Open Border” will begin with a “trial” stage through piloting three “green zone” destinations in July 2021 until Bali tourism is declared “ready” on August 17, 2021 and finally Bali will be truly “open” to the world in March 2022.
“The President’s statement provides a breath of fresh air for tourism actors in Bali, including event organizers to continue to improve and close ranks,” said Chairman of the Regional Leadership Council (DPD) for the Indonesian Event Industry (IVENDO) Bali, Grace Jeanie, in Denpasar.
Although the Head of State mentioned a condition for this, namely the growth rate for COVID-19 is increasingly under control, the President’s statement was quite a relief, because the government did not remain silent, but had taken tactical steps, such as expanding the vaccination program, tightening the implementation of health programs, and stimulus assistance. large industry, and others.
To that end, IVENDO Bali gave a contribution of thought that preparations for “Re-open border” can be started by conducting a simulation by inviting foreign media and representatives of foreign countries to Bali, as well as carrying out intensive publications and promotions to show Bali’s readiness.
In fact, the application of health protocols is not only a display case with socialization, but massive and continuous training, especially in the tourism industry. IVENDO is ready to be involved for CHSE training with trainers at the ASEAN level. Also, the program for integrating the concept of an eco-marketing system.
She mentioned the concept of the Bali Travel Fair which combines B2C and B2B, Bali tourism marketing through the study from Bali program, work from Bali, the Meet Bali program by bringing potential buyers from EO/PCO outside Bali to Bali, the health recovery program from Bali, healthy and fit in Bali, Bali Virtual Run, hybrid drive in concert, cinema under the sky, Bali photo hunting, Bali Visit Year 2022 and others.
“What is also important is how to move the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector, therefore we propose to use MSME products as activity souvenir products, both activities held by ministries/institutions and State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), as well as various supports for patterned and sustainable digitization,” she suggested.
As revealed by IVENDO Bali, behind the working visit of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, to Bali on March 16, 2021, it has a strategic meaning for the “awakening” of Bali, one of which is called the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination program.
“We hope that Bali can immediately rise up if the vaccination process continues every day. If the spread of COVID-19 is seen to be sloping, with the stages that will be designed by the local government, the opening of the economic sector in Bali can begin to be carried out one by one, especially the tourism sector to return to a normal position,” said the President while reviewing the mass vaccination in Gianyar, Bali (16/3/2021).
However, the President said that currently there are still steps needed to lead to a normal situation. The Head of State said that the three tourist areas in the province of Bali, namely Ubud, Sanur and Nusa Dua, would become pilot areas for “green zone” tourism (tourist destinations that are safe from COVID-19 for domestic and foreign tourists).
By establishing three green zones for tourist destinations in Bali, tourists, both domestic and foreign, feel safe on vacation in Bali. On the other hand, the tourism industry and the people of Bali will be safe and comfortable because the tourists who come are free of COVID-19.
President Jokowi added that if the three green or COVID-19 free tourist destinations had been opened to tourists, they would continue to be monitored and evaluated every week. How the progress after receiving tourists will continue to be evaluated and monitored.
“I hope that the opening of three green tourist destinations in Bali will revive the economy and tourism in Bali and national tourism,” said the President accompanied by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, and Bali Governor I Wayan Koster. , and Regent of Gianyar I Made Mahayastra.
The stage of “optimism”
Gianyar Regent I Made Mahayastra also revealed the stages of “optimism” after accompanying President Jokowi while reviewing the COVID-19 vaccination at Puri Ubud, Gianyar Regency (16/3/2021). The three designated green zones are tourist destinations in Ubud (Gianyar), Sanur (Denpasar), and Nusa Dua (Badung).
“Tourism in the green zone or free of COVID-19 will be able to accept foreign tourists or foreign tourists (tourists) starting August 17, 2021. This is still a trial phase, because in March 2022 then all tourism in Bali will be opened to foreign tourists,” said the Regent, Made Mahayastra.
Sandiaga Uno stated that this green tourist destination that is free from COVID-19 will make tourists, both domestic and foreign, feel safe on vacation in Bali. On the other hand, the tourism industry and the people of Bali will be safe and comfortable, because the tourists who come are already free of COVID-19.
“The President stated that the three green or COVID-19 free tourist destinations will continue to be monitored and evaluated every week. The President said that if all the COVID-19 numbers can be controlled and resolved, if compliance by the community remains disciplined testing, tracing and self-isolation are improved. Vaccines have also been distributed, he predicts that between June and July, InSya-Allah we will rise again,” he said.
Sandiaga added that the President also advised all parties to be able to spread hope and enthusiasm to the Balinese people and the people who are involved in tourism and the creative economy as a whole. “Hope is on the way, this assistance is coming soon, both with our steps, increasing vaccinations and programs. government programs, stimulus and social assistance, government assistance that we will promote in 2021,” he stated.
Meanwhile Trisno Nugroho, Head of the Bank Indonesia Representative Office in Bali Province, also expressed similar conviction. He said the acceleration or acceleration of Bali could complete the COVID-19 vaccination and reach 70 percent community immunity, which would encourage tourists to be more confident to visit or come to the Island of the Gods.
“With hotel entrepreneurs being vaccinated, airport officers being vaccinated, and so on, tourists will feel safer to travel to Bali,” he said during the COVID-19 vaccination activity which was centered at BNDCC Nusa Dua, Badung Regency, Bali, Saturday (13/3).
According to Trisno, currently wealthy people are still afraid to travel because they do not feel safe and comfortable. “By getting vaccine priority in Java and Bali, the hope is that it can raise the economy for other regions in the country,” he said.
Before arriving at the stage of bringing in foreign tourists, added Trisno, Bali could work on the potential of domestic tourists. Based on data for the last 10 years, the average per year tourists from the country who travel abroad are around 11 million people.
“Their spending is also big, around US$11 billion. If the 11 million people go to Bali around 50-60%, that’s quite a big deal. Especially in the midst of weak wisdom visits to Bali, every day in January-February 2021, on average. the average is 2,500 people, still good last year there were 5,000 people, “he said.
With vaccination efforts that are continuously being pushed, Trisno hopes that tourist visits to Bali per day can be caught up to 5,000-7,000, so that it can increase economic growth, which in the last quarter of 2020 contracted by more than 12%.
“We will see the impact in a month, two months. Today there are 4,200 tourists, at least my hope is that next week after knowing there is news about this vaccination, the visit can increase,” he said.
Likewise, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster said that the pandemic condition needs to be used as evaluation material to boost alternative sectors besides tourism. One of the alternative sectors that must be worked on more seriously is agriculture with the use of technology.
“Yes, 54% of Bali’s current Gross Regional Domestic Product comes from the tourism sector, so Bali loses foreign exchange up to IDR9.7 trillion every month, or experiences a deeper contraction than the national economic growth contraction, because the Island of the Gods is about time. “develop three sectors in a balanced manner, namely tourism, agriculture, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises/artisan,” he concluded. [antaranews]
