Because PSBB, Cinema Entrepreneurs: We Are Not Ethical In Calling Numbers, But Losing Trillions

JAKARTA - The Association of Indonesian Cinema Entrepreneurs (GPBSI) revealed the impact of the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) in DKI Jakarta which caused significant losses. Moreover, there are new regulations that are no less making entrepreneurs even more depressed.

As is known, the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan imposed a new regulation on the deadline for film screenings in theaters at 19.00 WIB during the Christmas and New Year 2021 holidays.

Chairman of GPBSI, Djonny Syafruddin, said that with the implementation of the new regulation on film viewing limits, it would reduce turnover. Moreover, the cinema has not yet recovered. During the implementation of the PSBB, the number of visitors was only 15 percent at most.

Moreover, said Djonny, there were also no films shown. Western films have also been postponed until March 2021. However, the screening of the film 'Wonder Woman' has increased the number of visits. But not significant.

"Wow, if we count a lot. I am not ethical to mention numbers, because in the face of a pandemic, the losses have been totaled, not billions anymore, but trillions," he said, when contacted by VOI, in Jakarta, Thursday, December 17.

Djonny revealed that the losses were experienced by assuming that each cinema recorded revenue of Rp1 billion per month, but due to the pandemic and the existence of PSBB, that income had plummeted.

"So if the average revenue for each cinema is for example only Rp1 billion, times 400 cinemas, just imagine. That is per month. Trillions are the main thing (the loss)," he explained.

During the three months since it started its operation, said Djonny, the cinema he owned only recorded an income of Rp 200 thousand to Rp 800 thousand per day. In fact, before the pandemic, income per day could reach Rp. 5 million to Rp. 20 million.

Djonny said that cinema entrepreneurs can only surrender that the final screening time of a film is limited to 19.00 WIB during the Christmas and New Year holidays. In fact, at this moment entrepreneurs can reap a bigger turnover than normal days.

"We are on average almost 30-40 percent of the average normal day, including Eid al-Fitr. In the months there are only warnings. But, we obey (the rules) because we have to be united in this situation," he said.

For your information, the operating hours of cinemas in DKI Jakarta are limited during the Christmas and New Year holidays. DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan allows the last screening hour of cinema films to be at 19.00 WIB.

This provision is contained in Governor Instruction Number 64 of 2020 concerning Control of Community Activities in Prevention of COVID-19 during the Holidays of Christmas 2020 and New Year 2021.

This provision applies from 24 to 27 December 2020 and 31 December 2020 to 3 January 2021.

In addition to cinemas, Anies also regulates the operating hours of food stalls, restaurants, cafes, restaurants, and tourist places / areas during the Christmas and New Year holidays. They were ordered to impose operational hours limits no later than 21.00 WIB, but on certain dates only until 19.00 WIB.