Minister Luhut: Tourism Sector Starts to Stretch

Detiktoday.com – The pandemic made many sectors need to adapt to new habits, including the tourism sector and the creative economy.

This was conveyed by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut B. Pandjaitan, when opening a webinar themed Reactivation of the Tourism Sector and Creative Economy Entering a New Customs Adaptation on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 (07-22-2020).

“The co-19 pandemic has had a great impact on many sectors, especially in the tourism sector, this is reflected in the reduction of foreign tourism as well as our foreign exchange,” said the Coordinating Minister Luhut, opening his remarks.

Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), recorded tourist trips fell to close to 100% compared to previous months. According to Menko Luhut, the decline can be felt directly by 180 thousand workers in the tourism sector and the creative economy.

“More than 2,000 hotels and inns experienced operational stops. This causes a decrease in demand for raw materials, such as oil, eggs, and milk. All of these impacts are very broad, “added Coordinating Minister Luhut.

Therefore, the Coordinating Minister for Luhut has encouraged a gradual increase in domestic tourists to 70%. But according to him, the paradigm in traveling needs to change, from a mass paradigm that emphasizes the number of tourists, to a quality paradigm that emphasizes added value.

“Therefore I entrust the areas to be visited in order to be completely complete with this health protocol,” he advised.
In line with this statement, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Wishnutama, stated, “To revive one of the main conditions we need to do is to implement health protocols,” he said.

The Menparekraf then said that based on his observations, a number of regions had prepared and implemented health protocols very well, one of which was the Province of Bali.

The Menparekraf’s statement was welcomed by the Governor of Bali by explaining, “We in Bali Province are currently conducting a process of starting the stages of tourism activities, of course we have to work harder in handling co-19,” said the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster.

Regarding co-19 handling, the Governor of Bali reports that the cure rate is currently at 74% and he targets to reach 80% by the end of this week.

The Coordinating Minister Luhut later added that the government had taken a number of steps to begin the construction of quality destinations. Around 3.8 trillion rupiah is destined for the tourism sector and the creative economy.

In addition to funding for tourism, the government is also encouraging the digitalization of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Related to UMKM, Deputy of Paririwasata Coordination and Creative Economy Ministry of Marves, Odo R.M. Manuhutu explained, “By focusing on domestic tourism and local products, we are optimistic that through mutual cooperation of various stakeholders, the recovery of the tourism sector and the creative economy can be realized well,” he explained.

On this occasion, Deputy Odo explained that the government had committed to realize a variety of lighters in the tourism and creative economy movement.

Deputy Odo also emphasized that the function of the government as a driver for tourism is important to be realized immediately given the declining purchasing power of the people during the pandemic.

“Data shows that sales on digital platforms have increased 8 times and will even increase to 16 times until the end of this year,” said Coordinating Minister Luhut. With the digitalization of MSMEs, it is expected that the velocity of money can occur at the small economic level during this pandemic.

The Coordinating Minister Luhut said that the government also encouraged the activities of the central government to be carried out in the regions, thus bringing a positive economic impact on the economy, especially in the tourism sector and the creative economy.

“I ask the local government to ensure the safety of tourism workers and the surrounding community and truly the local government, I beg again to remind people to comply with health protocols, use masks, keep their distance, and wash their hands” said the Coordinating Minister Luhut reminded the local government of tourist destinations to keep the health protocol tight.