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MINISTER of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno expects hotel owners in Bali to rethink and assess the impact of selling their property assets to the market place. The following is a report on questions and answers that Edhie Rianto has compiled.
The number of hotels in Bali that are being sold in the market place is increasing, how is the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy taking steps to save the property assets of the nation’s children in Bali?
Do not let the domestic businessmen actually become the loser because of the sale of assets. As a result, employment opportunities in Indonesia will decrease. Bali is one of the provinces most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, because around 54% of Bali’s economy is highly dependent on the tourism sector.
This also has an impact on the level of occupancy or occupancy of the hotel, so that hotel industry players are forced to sell their assets. Therefore, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy coordinates with relevant ministries and institutions to find the right solution in order to alleviate the difficulties faced by hoteliers, so that they do not need to sell their respective assets.
It would be nice, to establish a partnership of investment potentials in the tourism sector from foreign investors with partners in Indonesia. So that with this collaboration, we can reactivate the tourism sector and open up the widest possible employment opportunities.
Even from the results of the Bank Indonesia Representative for Bali, it is stated that there are 48 hotels that have been sold, and from the taxpayer’s report there are 7,940 hotel and restaurant businesses in Bali that have closed. How is the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy taking steps to restore this condition other than through the tourism grant aid program?
In addition to the Tourism Grant Fund, which is currently changing its name to BPUP, as well as various National Economic Recovery programs that have been prepared by the government. The memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Investment / BKPM is also one that is expected to be a solution for the rise of the tourism industry and the creative economy with massive investment in this sector as well as industrial development and investment.
But the most basic thing is that the government continues to promote COVID-19 vaccination so that the number of COVID-19 can be suppressed and people’s lives, especially tourism and the creative economy, can recover. And when all of that can go back to work, tourist destinations as well as creative economic centers and the community can also adapt to the adaptation of new habits through implementation of strict health protocols and CHSE-based discipline.
How does Minister Sandiaga Uno see the phenomenon that many hotels in Bali are being sold? Is this something reasonable?
Actually, buying and selling assets is a norm in every crisis. Usually, the owners and investors will make adjustments to their business portfolios and some decide to sell their assets. But on the other hand, in the midst of this downturn, usually there are still other investors who are interested in buying it.
This also happened during this pandemic. Because it turns out that in the midst of uncertainty, there is a lot of tourism and the creative economy that offers one potential. Instead, I received many emails from colleagues and relations abroad, many interested in buying assets in Indonesia.
Will there be an option or step from the central government to take over the assets of a number of hotels in Bali?
Bali is one of the provinces most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, because around 54% of Bali’s economy is highly dependent on the tourism sector. This also has an impact on the occupancy rate or hotel occupancy, so that hotel industry players are forced to sell their assets.
Therefore, the Ministry of Tourism coordinates with relevant ministries and institutions to find the right solution in order to alleviate the difficulties faced by hoteliers, so that they do not need to sell their assets.
The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy itself has applied for funds of IDR300 billion to the National Economic Recovery COVID-19 Handling Committee (KPC-PEN), to roll out a program to support accommodation and other supporting facilities for health workers. This program will involve a number of hotels as health worker facilities. Hopefully we can make it happen in the near future.
Then related to Income tax (PPh) is still in the internal discussion of the Ministry of Finance. During the pandemic period, hotels are included in industries that receive accelerated VAT refund facilities or VAT refunds.
In addition, Financial Fervices Authority (OJK) is also trying to prepare various programs to help tourism industry players, including the cost of electricity expenses and subscriptions for business customers, the placement of funds for credit restructuring is planned to be extended.
State Electricity Company (PLN) has also extended the electricity program stimulus in the form of discounted electricity tariffs, the implementation of a 50% load or subscription fee exemption, and a 50% minimum account requirement until December 2021.
With the support of various parties, it is hoped that it can help reactivate the hotel industry players who have been badly affected by the pandemic, and open employment opportunities for tourism and creative economy players. [traveltext.id]
