A Not-So-Beautiful View of Indonesia Tourism during Covid-19 Pandemic

KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s tourism chief admitted that the perception of tourism in Indonesia is not looking favorable during the coronavirus pandemic.

“The perception of tourism in Indonesia overseas during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in Australia, has been quite negative in part due to media reports," Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Wishnutama Kusubandio said. "Reports from other countries have not been that bad."

Improving the image of Indonesia’s tourism sector amid the coronavirus pandemic will require comradery from all Indonesians.

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Wishnutama also highlighted the role of Indonesian media in shaping a positive perception of foreigners towards the country's tourism sector.

Should such tasks prove successful, tourism in Indonesia has the chance to recover even amid the pandemic, which is particularly useful for places like Bali where residents rely heavily on tourism.

“I hope that our friends from the media will help see the positive side of what the central and regional governments have been doing to prop up Indonesian tourism, in particular with regard to the implementation of health protocols,” said Wishnutama.

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He also mentioned how the Covid-19 health protocols in place in Bali are already sufficient though there is always room for improvement, on which the ministry is willing to assist.

Bali Vice Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati or ‘Cok Ace’ shared Wishnutama’s view, saying there is already an available health protocol guidebook.

“What we have created has been perfected and completed in accordance with international standards. Our standard is beyond what is expected,” said Cok Ace.

Part of Bali’s Covid-19 health protocols enables local tourism operators to carry out self-assessments and afterward, they will be in touch with the Bali provincial government and the regency through the Bali Government Tourism Office.

Read also: Local Tourists the Apple of the Eye in Indonesia’s Tourism Ministry New Normal Plan

“The government plays an active role with various associations. For hotels, we work with the Indonesian Hotel & Restaurant Association, and so on,” said Bali’s Vice Governor.

Cok Ace said he is glad there remain some tourism businesses that have not filed a request to be assessed by the government.

According to the Vice Governor, many Balinese business owners in the tourism sector are aware that they are not yet prepared to fulfill the health protocol requirements.

“They are not ready yet and it is good that they themselves are aware by not rushing in their reopening, otherwise it could tarnish the image of Bali’s entire tourism sector,” said Cok Ace. (Writer: Nabilla Ramadhian | Editor: Kahfi Dirga Cahya)

Source: https://travel.kompas.com/read/2020/10/16/071000627/citra-pariwisata-indonesia-di-mata-dunia-selama-pandemi-covid-19?page=all#page2