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MINISTRY of Tourism and Creative Economy wants the policy to work from Bali or Work From Bali (WFB) for the state civil apparatus (ASN) to be of right benefit to help and restore the economy of the tourism sector and the creative economy (parekraf) on the Island of the Gods which has been slumped by the pandemic.
According to the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno in a weekly press briefing at Sapta Pesona Building, Jakarta, Monday (24/5) explained, some time ago the Ministry of Tourism was also present at the memorandum of understanding between the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime & Investment and PT Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), which manages the Nusa Dua area, and 16 accommodation providers in Nusa Dua.
“So far, Bali has become the primadonna of tourism in the country as one of the largest foreign exchange earners in the tourism sector. But this time, Bali needs our helping hand. The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has already conducted WFB in the first quarter of 2021, we hope that this policy can be of right benefit, right on target, and on time to maintain the economy of the tourism & creative economy (parekraf) sector in Bali,” he said.
Sandiaga explained, related to the Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA) for foreign tourists must be prepared carefully. Therefore, it is hoped that the WFB for the scope of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime & Investment can be a preparation so that the TCA can be implemented.
“There is no special budget allocation for WFB, it still uses the old budget so that it can be managed efficiently. The realization of this government budget is expected to boost Bali’s economic growth in stages, which grew minus 5.24% in the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2020,” he said.
As is known, last year, the economy in Bali fell 12% and in the first quarter of 2021 it was still minus 9%. Room Occupancy Rate (ROR) in February 2021 for star hotels in Bali is 8.99% or minus 2.16 points (m-o-m) and non-star hotels 7.70% or plus 1.00 points (m-o-m).
“The working scheme in Bali is still in the stage of being formulated. Not only ASN, the private sector is also directed to be able to hold activities or meetings in areas including Bali by implementing strict and disciplined health protocols. Tourism is a sector with a high level of multiplier effect. So that this policy is also expected to boost other sectors such as transportation and others,” he said.
Regarding Tourism Grants and Government Incentive Assistance, Sandiaga Uno also explained that he had proposed the 2021 FY2021 Economic Recovery Program Fund (PEN) for the Tourism Sector of IDR3.7 trillion to the Chairperson of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN) with a wider range of grantees than the 2020 Tourism Grants Fund.
For Government Incentive Assistance, which is an annual program that has been held since 2017 which aims to provide additional working capital and/or fixed asset investment to tourism businesses and the creative economy. The number continues to grow every year.
“In 2020, Government Incentive Assistance disbursement is budgeted at IDR24 billion and this year it is IDR60 billion. In addition, Government Incentive Assistance also does not have priority destinations, it is open to all of Indonesia (no quota, limits) because it is in the form of selection, through evaluation by curators,” he concluded.
Sandiaga added, however, for businesses in Super Priority Destinations, or certain areas/having certain elements (such as sociopreneurs, having social/environmental impacts) could be an added value in the assessment. Registration for the Government Incentive Assistance program (open submission) will open on June 4, 2021 and close on July 4, 2021. [traveltext.id]
