Event Industry Objects To Prohibition Of Cigarette Advertising At The Jakarta KTR Raperda: We Have Never Been Involved

JAKARTA - The plan to ban the total billboards of tobacco products throughout DKI Jakarta has again drawn criticism from event industry players. The policy, which is stated in the Draft Regulation of Non-Smoking Areas (Raperda KTR), is considered to have the potential to hit the sustainability of the event sector, which is currently sluggish.

The Indonesian Event Industry Council (IVENDO) is one of the parties who objected. They highlighted the discussion process of the Raperda KTR which is said to have not involved industry players who were directly affected from the ban on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products.

"We have never been invited, we have not been involved. The voices of event industry players should be heard. We have also never been invited to a hearing regarding the ban on the total advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of Ranperda KTR," said Chairman of DPD IVENDO DKI Jakarta Eka Nugraha to reporters, Tuesday, December 9.

Eka assessed that the policy could worsen the condition of the workforce in the event sector, especially when the central government and local governments were carrying out budget efficiency. This situation has reduced the number of activities, so the ban on sponsorship is considered to increase the burden on business actors.

Meanwhile, data from the 2024-2025 National Event Industry Survey shows that this sector still has a big economic role. Throughout last year, there were 8.777 event activities in 34 provinces with an economic value of IDR 84.46 trillion and created job opportunities for around 8.8 million workers.

However, IVENDO noted that since February the value of the lost business has reached Rp429.23 billion due to the cancellation of the event after the budget savings policy was implemented. This condition is said to further suppress industry players who depend on the sustainability of activities.

"Please talk to the industry players first, so that later a policy will be born to all parties," he said.

Eka hopes that the discussion of the Raperda KTR will not immediately lock up the total ban without considering the sustainability of the event industry in Jakarta. He assessed that the involvement of creative industry players is important so that the regulations that were born are in line with the situation on the ground.

"Not only the regulation of shooting, but everything. How should it be in sync and collaboration so that this industry can run. The event industry segment has many challenges in regulation, in licensing. We need government protection and support," added Eka.